SUICIDE RATES are likely to increase over the coming months as the effects of the recession begin to hit more people's lives, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.
Dr John Connolly, of the Irish Association of Suicidology, said that, despite the shrinking public finances, it was vital the Government invests more in suicide prevention and mental health services to reduce the number of unnecessary deaths.
"We must be aware of the facts that research reaching back to that of Emile Durkhiem in the 1890s shows that, in times of recession, suicide rates inevitably increase," Dr Connolly told the Oireachtas subcommittee on Ireland's High Level of Suicide.
"Unfortunately, this will happen in Ireland in the coming months and years unless we ensure that funding for the implementation of the national suicide prevention strategy and other services is guaranteed."
Official figures show that at least 460 people took their own lives last year.
Ireland continues to have the fifth-highest rate of suicide in Europe among young men aged 15-24.
Dr Connolly said the association was "profoundly disappointed" that adequate ringfenced funding has not been provided for the national strategy on suicide prevention - Reach Out - since it was adopted as Government policy three years ago.
"Many of the recommendations haven't taken place, which is very frustrating," said Dr Connolly.
"Apparently ring-fenced funding still hasn't arrived, so it continues to be a Cinderella of the health service."
Dr Justin Brophy, of the Irish Association of Suicidology, said suicide prevention services were hampered by a widespread political belief that nothing could be done to prevent suicide.