IRISH RURAL Link, the national network representing rural community groups, has said the economic crisis has meant that stress, isolation and suicide are becoming even more serious problems in rural areas.
In a pre-Christmas message, it appealed to people in rural areas to check on vulnerable neighbours and to drive safely over Christmas.
Its policy and communications officer, Seán O’Leary, said rural isolation involved shocking loneliness due to dispersed settlement, patchy or no transport, bad roads, a poor sense of community and the closure of post offices and small shops.
“Severe weather and financial worries, especially at Christmas, all play a part in stress. It hurts not just the bachelors, but also women who live alone, single-parent families, people with disability, families affected by poverty and older people who are more likely to be prevented from driving because of health or cost,” he said.
“Our members have informed us that stress, isolation and suicide are becoming even more serious problems in rural areas with the economic crisis.”
He urged people to use the HSE’s free helpline, on 1800 742 645, targeted at farmers and others living in rural areas. Mr O’Leary said the helpline had been extended countrywide last year.
An evaluation of the initiative, published in December last year and involving the HSE, Ballyhoura Development and Teagasc, found 325 calls were made in Kerry and Cork over 12 months. There are no figures on the facility’s current use.
The key findings of the report were that 55 per cent of callers were male, 62 per cent were single and 50 per cent were living alone.
A total of 41 per cent of callers cited depression and suicidal thoughts as their major health problems, while 40 per cent said they had previously received treatment for depression. The audit of the service found that 43 per cent of callers cited loneliness or no support as reasons for calling the helpline; 50 per cent of them sought further support from the helpline.