Survey reveals majority of students feel they do not know enough about suicide

Almost

70 per cent of young people do not believe they know enough about suicide and depression, a survey shows. Some 66.5 per cent said they knew somebody who had taken their own life.

More than 56 per cent of students had witnessed online bullying, with one in seven saying they had been bullied online. While 28.3 per cent said their online persona was nastier than their real one, 29.2 per cent admitted they would say things online they would not say in person.

More than 30 per cent had posted pictures or information about a person online without their consent and 9.6 per cent admitted they had posted lies and rude comments about others online. The survey, conducted by Student Marketing Network, covered 1,400 students.

Network managing director Colman Byrne, who served two terms as president of the Union of Students Ireland, said the prevalence of bullying online could not be ignored.

“It is extremely worrying that over two-thirds of students feel they do not receive enough information about depression and suicide,” he said. “That is something the Government must address as a matter of urgency.”