The Friends of Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin have launched a campaign to raise £100,000 to fund research aimed at reducing the incidence of suicide among young people.
The group is hosting its annual ball in the Four Seasons Hotel, Ballsbridge, on Saturday, March 31st. Tickets at £25 are available from the hospital (phone: 01-8095344).
Statistics show that the incidence of suicide in Ireland has risen dramatically in the past 10 years, with male deaths outnumbering female deaths by a ratio of about seven to one.
Within the EU, Ireland's suicide rates are about halfway between those countries with the highest levels (Scandinavia) and those with the lowest (Mediterranean countries).
Risk factors for suicide among young people include depressive disorders, excess use of alcohol and drugs, lack of "family cohesion" and a previous history of self-harm.
Studies from other countries suggest about 5 per cent of adolescents suffer from some form of depressive disorder. Only a very small proportion of the young people who have committed suicide had previous contact with the mental health services.