Suicide appears now to be an accepted option for some young people when times are bad, according to a study which is published in the latest edition of the Irish Journal of Psychiatry.
The study, which examined the psycho-social profile of 70 people who had committed suicide in Dublin during a two-year period, confirmed the rising suicide rate among young people in the State.
It also found an increase in the use of violent methods of suicide and significant psychological symptoms in a number of the victims which did not come to professional attention.
The study, Suicide - Who are the Victims?, found that 70 per cent of the victims were male and the range in age was from 17 to 78 years. There was an excess of deaths among the younger age groups, particularly among males. The study was carried out by Dr Sheila McGauran, consultant psychiatrist, Dr Michael Fitzgerald, consultant child psychiatrist and Dr Ronan Lyons, consultant in public health medicine.
The authors said that it seemed, as always, that males are at higher risk than females for completed suicide. Victims may well have made previous attempts and many have experienced "an excess of significant life changes" in the year before death.
Although still likely to have a history of psychiatric illness, particularly depression, or alcohol abuse, a growing number of victims, particularly young men, do not have documented mental disorder. However, it may well be that significant depressive symptoms are missed in at least some of this group. "In some, suicide often appears to be an impulsive act, which has significant implications for the success or failure of preventative measures. It would seem that sociocultural change with increasing frustration and multiple stresses certainly increase the vulnerability of this population. It seems, also that suicide is now an accepted option for the young when times are bad.
"This is probably due to complex and multiple factors, including increasing violence in society in general and probably to a lesser extent, relaxation of the religious taboo in relation to suicide."
Whether cases of suicide can be prevented remains a contentious issue, according to the authors.