Rapid changes in Irish society in recent times, which include a decline in religious practice, may be a contributory factor in the increasing suicide rate here, according to a leading psychiatrist, writes Tom Shiel.
Dr John Connolly, secretary of the Irish Association of Suicidology (IAS), spoke at the weekend of a "spiritual vacuum" in Ireland at the present time which was reflected in fewer people, especially the young, attending Mass and participating in general religious practice.
Changes in Irish society over the past 30 years from a spiritual, social, economic and cultural point of view had happened much more quickly than in other European countries, Dr Connolly stated.
He added: "I am not advocating a return to religion in any way but the old ways created a sense of community, a sense of belonging. That was a good thing.
"It helped people to integrate socially, particularly in rural areas which are sparsely populated."
Changes in religious practice in Ireland had happened quickly relative to other EU countries, where the shift took place over perhaps half a century, so that new norms were developing as the old norms were being thrown out.
The present rate of suicide, 451 self-inflicted deaths last year, was alarming, Dr Connolly continued.
It was particularly worrying that increasing numbers of young Irish people were taking their lives in recent years, he continued.
Dr Connolly said that, up to now, young males were mostly vulnerable to suicide but that was changing with the pressure increasing on young women to be successful academically, to look slim and beautiful, and to land glamour jobs.
He added that an examination of the suicide statistics for the 15-24 age group in the past 10 years shows that the number of young women taking their lives had almost doubled, even though the numbers for females was still quite small.
Dr Connolly said a factor in the increased suicide rate among adolescent females compared with 20 or 30 years ago was an increasing level of alcohol consumption among young women.
Asked if exam pressures were a factor in Irish suicides, Dr Connolly replied that all of the studies undertaken internationally and nationally would indicate there was no expected increase in suicide at the time of exams though, of course, there was a lot of academic and personal stress associated with such examinations.