The worsening financial crisis could lead to an increase in suicide rates as people struggle to come to grips with rising unemployment and mounting debts, the Samaritans warned today.
It said that economic recession can lead to an increase in suicides, not only among those who become unemployed but also among those who remain in employment but feel they may lose their jobs.
The charity has called on people to look out for family, friends and colleagues and urged individuals experiencing emotional distress over the coming weeks and months to contact its helpline.
"Financial difficulty can contribute to the breakdown of even the strongest relationships with friends and family. People may rely more heavily on alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism and it is well established that excessive alcohol consumption and drug misuse increase suicide risk," said Joe Ferns of Samaritans.
Research undertaken on behalf of the charity shows that people who are unemployed are 2-3 times more likely to die by suicide than people in employment, with unemployed men more at risk than women. In addition, other studies indicate that unemployment can often lead to anxiety, depression, lower self-esteem and feelings of hopelessness — all of which increase the likelihood that someone will consider ending their life.
"We urge anyone feeling distressed or struggling to cope this Christmas to share their problems rather than letting them get out of control. Talk to your family, friends and colleagues or, if you feel you can't do this, contact us. We are open around the clock over the festive period, even when many other public services are closed," said Mr Ferns.
Samaritans in Ireland received over 500,000 calls from members of the public last year. According to the charity, one in ten calls or e-mails received concern financial issues, with 41 per cent of contacts who mention economic concerns worried about employment, 32 per cent worried about housing and 25 per cent anxious about debt.
"If you're worried about someone close to you, there are a number of signs that you can watch out for. Doctors and other health professionals should also be on the lookout for mental health symptoms that may be linked to unemployment and financial strain," added Mr Ferns.
The advice helpline Aware said today that it had noticed a steady rise in calls to its services since September.
"We do know that difficult financial times can lead to people feeling extra pressure and can certainly aggravate any underlying concerns that they may have. Although someone may be prone to mental health problems, economic problems can certainly amplify them," said Sandra Hogan, public relations officer with Aware.
Danger signs to look out for include someone:
1 Being withdrawn or unsociable
2 Being low-spirited or depressed
3 Drinking alcohol excessively or becoming dependent on drugs
4 Finding it difficult to relate to others
5 Taking less care of themselves
6 Acting out of character
7 Being tearful or constantly fighting back tears
8 Being excessively irritable
9 Finding it hard to concentrate
10 Feeling less energetic or particularly tired
11 Eating much less or much more than usual
12 Putting themselves down
The Samaritans can be contacted by phone on 1850 60 90 90, via e-mail at jo@samaritans.org or face-to-face at one of Ireland's 20 local branches.
The Aware helpline can be reached by dialling 1890 303 302
