A new report highlighting the high incidence of suicide among the Travelling community in west Dublin was launched yesterday.
Andy Doogue, education officer of the Tallaght Travellers Youth Service, said that in the past 18 months there had been 18 suicides among the Travelling community in the Tallaght, Clondalkin and Ballyfermot areas - while families living in those areas have also been directly affected by 17 suicides in other parts of the country.
The report, by the Tallaght Travellers Youth Service, a special project of Catholic Youth Care, was launched by Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin and Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children Tim O'Malley at a conference on suicide in the Travelling community yesterday.
The document calls for the introduction of a suicide prevention officer to help alleviate the problem.
An application for financial support for a suicide officer through the Dormant Accounts Fund was rejected earlier this year.
Mr O'Malley said yesterday that the Department was committed to the implementation of suicide prevention initiatives in order to reduce further loss of life.
The research reveals that half of the 52 Travellers from the Tallaght area interviewed as part of the study have had to deal with between three and six male suicides, which mostly concerned immediate or extended family members.
Sixteen interviewees were affected by one or two female deaths by suicide, while 10 per cent have had to cope with over 10 suicides. Hanging was the most common method of suicide, with all the interviewees having dealt with at least one hanging of a family member or friend. Those interviewed also had to deal with 49 attempted suicides by men and 29 by women.
Family breakdown, alcohol and drug abuse, depression and mental health issues emerged as significant causes of suicide in the community.
The report recommends that there should be greater access for Travellers to counselling, mental health services, drug and alcohol treatment, increased information and education within the Travelling community.
The absence of a liaison person that members of the Travelling community could meet to discuss problems was mentioned by interviewees as the most significant gap in support.
Mr Doogue, who has worked with the Travelling community for 21 years, said Travellers needed to be able to talk to someone they could trust.