nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

Ireland and suicide

Lollipop95

Does anyone else think this country has a serious issue with suicide? In the last 2 weeks, I’ve heard of 3 young men dying, all by suicide.

Some may be exacerbated by lockdown, but I feel like it’s always been an issue. But why? There’s awareness campaigns like DIL, but are they making a difference?

It’s well known that the mental health services in this country is shocking, but why does it seem so prominent in Ireland? I was talking to a friend recently who lives in England. They mentioned that in England they do have the whole “stiff upper lip” attitude (in some people), but for the most part, English people understand emotions. He said that is different to Irish people, who don’t really seem to and think it’s important to be happy at all times.

I’ve been to places like the US and over there there’s a lot more relaxed attitude to things like therapy. The word is thrown around over there like it’s nothing, whereas over here I’d know quite a few people who would get offended at the suggestion.

It’s all just so sad. And it’s not even all young men who are doing it, I’ve heard of some suicide in the past few years where the person is in their 70s.

What is the solution here?

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

[Deleted User]

What I take from my own experiences with depression/mental health is that people here are quite reluctant to help others when they reach out. Even if it's a friend/family member.

My parents were like that, anytime I'd bring something bad up that happened to me, their response would be something like:

"Get away from me, I'm not an expert."

"That's water under the bridge now, forget about it."

I remember once thinking during a CBT session I had "Why am I here?" "If therapy wasn't an option who would be the obvious person I'd speak to?" (family/friends/parents)

Someone already mentioned the abyss of the HSE, but maybe the answer is also to teach others to be more compassionate?

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118202164#Comment_118202164

Maybe there's an impression abroad that we have a high suicide rate because it was formerly so rare, or at least so rarely acknowledged and talked about. Whereas in other countries it would have long been fairly widespread and openly acknowledged for people in certain circumstances, say an old guy whose wife has just died, to check out themselves so that those countries would have a higher rate of suicide than us but it wouldn't be regarded as something shocking or even much remarked upon.

Danzy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118202366#Comment_118202366

But it is a culture, especially in rural Ireland with a very healthy acceptance of death. Death is accepted as just a part of life,the price of life.

I've family in England who have never seen a dead body, never mind a person die. That's a dangerous level of hiding from life and it is becoming more prevalent here as well.

Sonics2k

Terrible support for those suffering from mental health problems, open dismissal, lack of focused support of men's mental health, total lack of funding and massive wait times just to get seen or start treatment.

Still stihl waters 3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118202445#Comment_118202445

If you'd a spot picked like the side of a motorway bridge or a big tree and hit it at 100 - 150 kph without the seat belt, it would probably be a fore gone conclusion

KaneToad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118202445#Comment_118202445

It's not a sure thing. But as a phenomenon, there is an abundance of academic research on it.

Mad_maxx

The idea of killing oneself in a car seems odd ?

Certainly not a sure thing in terms of success

c.p.w.g.w

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118202164#Comment_118202164

South Korea has the highest teenage suicide rate, the pressure those kids are under to get amazing test scores in that country is scary...

I think modern life is a contributing factor to mental health issues and illnesses...

Genuinely, when was the last time you saw the stars in the sky, or went a number of weeks were you did get woken by your alarm or had stresses about trivial (well things that ordinarily were deemed trivial)

Also looking at what your average person eats and drinks is likely having issues too...

In my last job, I had ballooned to over 100kg and was sleeping 5 hours a night, due to stress and messed up work schedule, all for poor wages*

*I don't spend much money mind, so even poor wages still goes a long way for me

dxhound2005

Lowest recorded suicide level in 20 years. There were 147 road deaths in 2020. Some may have been suicides, but it would need proof. Even if a large number was added to the suicide figure, it would still be a low number overall.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/recorded-suicides-in-ireland-fall-to-lowest-level-in-two-decades-1.4664538

Mrs OBumble

Irish culture is fixated on death: there's nothing anyone loves more than a good aul funeral.

Also, the culture is poor at listening, so even when someone who is considering self-harm askes for help, they are unlikely to be heard.

nj27

I'm an advocate of keeping your state of mind to yourself. People should work on improving their lifestyle rather than crying about "mental health". I know this is an unpopular point of view these days but I think it works for me and would probably work for a lot of people if they gave it an earnest go. I had some psychological issues a while ago and I made sure I went towards positive things like exercise, reading, and working hard then suddenly they weren't a big deal anymore. If you're a paranoid schizophrenic get down to the doctors office and get some heavy antipsychotics, or if you're making plans to kill yourself check into the hospital instead, but these vague and mild bouts of anxiety and depression people complain about are most likely the result of a dreadful lifestyle and crying about it is probably just counterproductive.

piplip87

I think the number is under reported to. All these young lads getting killed in single vehicle collisions, I'd imagine a fair bit of these could be suicide.

I know my own brother died in one 10 years ago and looking back before the accident he was displaying some of the signs like giving stuff away, changed the benefactor for his credit union savings and gave the mother a large sum of money to mind for him turns out there was enough to cover a funeral.

Personally of the top of my head I can think of 12 people o know who killed themselves. Most of them where happy people who it was a complete shock when it happened.

Danzy

The Idea that Irish people think one has to be happy at all times is a new one to me.

People here were largely as stoic as it gets. Accepting that life is often **** but that is part of the game and doesn't mean a **** Life.

katherineconlan

I remember reading somewhere that Ireland actually doesn't have a particularly high suicide rate (well it's high compared to many developing countries but lower than many other regions like Eastern Europe, Japan, South Korea) but due to a smaller degree of separation, people know many people that take their own life.

I know of only one person who took their life, my basketball coach in secondary school but it's seems that many people knew him, even though he wasn't a prolific figure. I've moved counties and met someone who played basketball with him. In places like the U.S. however, it's possible to meet people who you'll never meet again or who don't know anyone in your social circle compared to here.