The rising rate of suicide among young men in rural areas has prompted the first Irish study into the problem. Sylvia Thompsonreports
When someone dies by suicide in rural Ireland, a dark shadow passes over the whole community as people search for reasons why. The biggest question that haunts those closest to the person who died is almost always, could we have prevented it and how?
The rising rate of suicide among young men in rural areas in the past 10 years has also grabbed the attention of academics, health professionals and voluntary agencies as everyone seeks ways to reverse the upward spiral of rural suicide.
"The expression 'a rising tide raises all boats' does not apply to rural Ireland," says Frank Laffey, health and safety officer with Teagasc, the farming advisory body.
"Suicide is the biggest problem in rural communities and it is a sign that many young people are in pain of one kind or another that they are totally unable to deal with."
According to Laffey, some young men in rural areas feel their lives have failed due to personal traumas, failed relationships and/or income problems. "The problem is that we haven't given them the skills and tools to cope with the pressures in their lives," he says.
At a recent seminar on rural suicide organised by Teagasc, sociologist and priest Dr Harry Bohan said that "an excessive regulation of farms, linked with a feeling of loss of control because policy decisions were taken elsewhere" could be contributing to the increasing levels of rural suicide.
"Farming must focus on sustainable rural communities, the environment and the human spirit if the growing trend of suicide among young rural men is to be tackled," Bohan adds.
At the same seminar, Dr Anne Cleary from University College Dublin said research had found that young farmers have a sense of failed identity because they feel less well off economically and socially than those who have left the land.
"Previously, they were their own bosses and now they are seen as lonely and marginalised," she says.
Sociologist Áine Macken Walsh works in the Teagasc Rural Economy Research Centre in Athenry, Co Galway. She is one of the supervisors of a new three-year Teagasc-sponsored PhD study titled Suicide and rural men, risks and vulnerabilities.
"Traditionally, farming was a very legitimate and important role [ in Irish society] and that is now being challenged," she says. "My areas of research are the [ changing] rural identity, the barriers to change as well as suicide."
Macken Walsh says: "I don't think there is a standard prescription for rural communities to prevent suicide but issues such as equal opportunities, social inclusion and employment opportunities are all very important to prevent social isolation."
Macken Walsh also points to the growth of different types of community organisations in recent years.
"In the past, community organisations were based around and organised by the church but now there are business, environmental and tourism groups. Traditional agricultural producers have had to respond to these changes and adapt to new rural enterprises."
As we await the results of this first Irish study into rural suicide, we can note one huge change that has already occurred which is that the silence has broken on suicide.
"Yes, people are talking about it now," says Frank Laffey.