Groups working to help prevent suicide throughout the north-west have money problems. Donegal-based Father James Sweeney, who has been working on suicide issues for years, has already had talks with the new Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Ms Mary Coughlan, to seek funding for a pilot project in the county.
He believes there is still under-reporting of suicide. He knows of two cases in the north Donegal area in the past 10 days alone. Father Sweeney argues that counselling must be made more accessible to those who cannot afford to pay. Many people are reluctant to go through their GPs as required by health boards generally, he says.
A qualified counsellor, he is asking Ms Coughlan to fund a pilot self-referral counselling service in Co Donegal. Attempts to have such a service funded have been unsuccessful in the past two years, he says.
"I am not saying this is the ultimate answer, but it is another angle that needs to be looked at. If there was a self-referral counselling service, there might be a greater uptake." The costs would be a lot lower than keeping a small number of people in a psychiatric hospital, he says.
Young men are most at risk from suicide in Ireland, and Father Sweeney believes the increasing abuse of drugs and alcohol is contributing to this.
Funding is also an issue for the local branch of the Samaritans, based in Sligo. The number of contacts to the organisation increased from 17,000 in 2000 to 19,000 last year. It encourages people to make contact long before they feel suicidal; talking to someone, even on the phone, can help a person get a different perspective on their problems, says a spokesman.
The organisation relies totally on voluntary contributions. It has to move from its existing premises in Sligo and €300,000 will have to be raised for new offices.
Mayo-based Dr John Connolly, secretary of the Irish Association of Suicidology, says there is concern over the increase in suicides last year because there had been a decline in the previous two years. Because there can be large variations from year to year, it is necessary to look at five-year trends, he says.
Rapid changes in society, the decline in religious practice, and increased consumption of alcohol are all contributing factors. Although there have been "enormous improvements" in the health services over the past 20 years, there is concern that the proportion of the health budget spent on psychiatry has declined. There needs to be more education about mental health, and psychiatric illness has to be de-stigmatised.
- The Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day on 1850 60 90 90 or in Sligo on 071-42011. There are suicide bereavement support groups in Letterkenny, Sligo, Boyle and Cavan.
- The Irish Association of Suicidology holds its annual meeting on September 21st and 22nd in Belfast and there will also be a conference later in the year on bullying and suicide.