Over 700,000 people globally die by suicide every year. Suicide is the 4th leading cause of death among young people. For each death, many others have tried. The majority of deaths by suicide happen in low to middle-income countries. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen in Ireland. Suicide is a public health issue everywhere, especially among men. In Ireland, 437 people died by suicide in 2018. Analysing the gender breakdown in 2018, 75% were men compared to 25% of women.
There are many reasons why it is still taboo to discuss this subject in society. Apart from being painful to family and friends and the community, the stereotype associated with a person that takes their own life generally leads to them being perceived as a loser, who couldn’t achieve any goals in life. All the stigma and judgement only do us a disservice. It keeps people from seeking help and suffering in silence.
According to Dr. Ana Beatriz Barbosa Silva, a psychiatrist and author of Depressive Minds stated: “no one takes their own life without a big dose of desperation, hopelessness, incapacity and nullity in its mind”. There isn’t a single answer as to why, but there are groups of people who are at higher risk to attempt suicide, such as people with mental illness disorder; people with disabling clinical conditions; those who had a loss recently, like a loved one, or a job; and LGBTQ+ people.

The biggest risk factor is by far a previous attempt. Not all is lost. Suicide is preventable. The World Health Organisation listed the following as some actions we can take:
- limit access to the means of suicide (e.g. pesticides, firearms, certain medications);
- interact with the media for responsible reporting of suicide;
- foster socio-emotional life skills in adolescents;
- early identify, assess, manage and follow up anyone who is affected by suicidal behaviours.
Those are only a few actions we can take in order to prevent tragedy. But we can do more. End the stigma around the word suicide. Talk about it with friends, family, children. Ask loved ones if they’re going through some difficult times. Only when we end the taboo, we will be able to really help people who are struggling to get out of a bad place.
If you are affected by any of the issues cited above, please contact:
- Pieta House call 1800 427 427 or text HELP to 51444 or
- Samaritans call 116 123
- Feeling low or sad? Anxious? Stressed? Text HELLO to 50808 for an anonymous 24/7 free chat service provided by the HSE.
- Contact your general practitioner or your local hospital/ emergency services or attend the emergency department if you need urgent support/ psychiatric care.
Written by: Amanda Rodrigues

Do you want to read more stories like this?
Please see – Social Media: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.


Recent Articles –

New Podcast
‘Unlocking Ireland’s Housing Crisis’ is the latest episode in our podcast series, which provides an enlightening overview of the historical context of the housing crisis in Ireland. This podcast delves into the potential to integrate policy adopted in Austria, which in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis reacted radically different to Ireland. We explore housing as a whole with two exclusive interviews with experts in housing.
Read More New Podcast
Podcast: Pursuit Of Happiness
The ‘Pursuit Of HAPpiness’ podcast provides a provoking insight into the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme in Ireland. Do you want to know, what it is like living as a recipient of HAP, the instability, insecurity and uncertainty of the rental market and examining how the scheme is designed more so for the landlords rather than the tenants and the devastating impacts this can have on the people availing of this scheme, who can be exploited at a moments notice.
Read More Podcast: Pursuit Of Happiness
What HAPpens Next Ireland?
If the situation arises where financial aid is required to afford somewhere to live, there are schemes put in place to assist. The HAP scheme is there to help, or at least, it’s supposed to be. The HAP scheme is majorly flawed, and is skewing the market for everyone, not only the HAP tenants. The lack of sufficient social housing has thrown a considerable number of social housing candidates into the deep end of the private rental sector. It’s time to talk about that.
Read More What HAPpens Next Ireland?Article Archive –
- April 2022
- March 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- October 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016