Suicide Statistics

Death by suicide is a major problem in Ireland.

In 2004 there were 478 suicides or 12.2 per 100,000 population. This was the biggest cause of death in the 15-24 age groups at 26%. Males represented 81% of suicides, while females represented 19%.

In contrast there were 389 deaths in road traffic accidents or 9.9 per 100,000 populations in 2002. Of the 389 deaths, three quarters were male and one quarter female.

Suicide has been steadily rising in Ireland with a peak in the mid 1990s. This may be explained partly by the fact that suicide was decriminalised in 1993.

All the material in the manual and instructors kit is as relevant to Ireland as it is to Scotland apart from the statistics.

The PowerPoint presentation has been edited to represent Irish statistics.