Continued tolerance of excessive drinking is partly to blame for
high suicide rates among young men, President Mary McAleese warned
today.
As bereavement group Console claimed recession-hit Celtic Tiger
executives may be a suicide risk, Mrs McAleese also condemned the
ongoing acceptance and culture of alcohol abuse in Ireland.
The President said: "The link between increased suicides among young
males and increases in alcohol abuse should be setting off alarm bells
in every home, school, street, peer group, community and across our
country generally.
"However there is that other huge cultural taboo around the
extensive social role played by alcohol, allied to our level of
tolerance of alcohol abuse among friends and workmates and while that
remains high, the chances are that so too will the rate of death from
suicide especially among young males."
The Console conference at Citywest Hotel, Dublin discussed the impact of the recession on suicide levels.
Console founder Paul Kelly warned jobless businessmen are more
likely to suffer depression because their self-worth is closely linked
to career success.
Unemployed people are also six times more likely to suffer from a
psychiatric disorder which may trigger future suicide attempts.
"During the Celtic Tiger, some extremely successful individuals in
an economic sense had almost 'super-hero' prestige associated with
their financial success," he said.
"When they lose this status overnight with the economic downturn,
they can be particularly vulnerable - especially if this is accompanied
by major debts, they can feel powerless in the face of financial ruin."
President McAleese added: "As our economy and lifestyles adjust to
the impact of the global economic crisis, we know individuals and
families face considerable new stresses and strains.
"Debts and unemployment or the fear of it will take their toll on
relationships and on mental well-being. We know that we cannot wish
these things away.
"They will be very real in their consequences for research confirms
what common sense tells us, that following job loss people report
higher levels of anxiety, stress, depression, anger and loss of
personal control and self-esteem."
Console was established in 2002 by families that experienced the
grief of losing a loved one through suicide. The group estimates that
an average of six people are severely affected by somebody taking their
own life.
An average of 500 people take their own lives in Ireland every year.
The President said Console should champion issues around suicide both the causes and the need to invest in supports.
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