The number of suicides in the Republic rose last year for the first time since 1998, according to annual figures from the Central Statistics Office.
Some 448 people, 80 per cent of whom were male, took their own lives in 2001. A quarter of the victims were in the 25-34 age bracket and one fifth were in the 15-24 bracket.
In total, 112 more people died in suicides than on the roads last year - something which anti-suicide campaigners have cited as a reason for greater investment in suicide prevention.
"When you consider the campaigns for road safety and compare them to efforts to prevent suicide, there is an appalling disparity between the two," said Dr John F. Connolly, secretary of the Irish Association of Suicidology.
"That can't go on. We need to treat this issue much more seriously."
He described the figures as "quite depressing" given the number of suicides had fallen two years in succession since a record high of 504 in 1998.
An unusual feature was that the number of suicides fell in the first half of 2001, with 174 such deaths in that period compared to 192 in the same period in 2000. In contrast, there were 274 suicides in the second half of 2001 compared to 221 in the same period in 2000.
Dr Connolly said it was possible the events of September 11th had had an impact on the figures, along with an economic downturn last year. However, he stressed it was difficult to generalise.
"We have to remember we were blaming the increase in suicide in the 1980s on the recession. Now we are blaming it on the boom. The truth is there are so many factors involved."
Mr Paul O'Hare, public relations manager for the Samaritans, was sceptical about the influence of September 11th. He noted the Samaritans conducted a survey on stress in the UK and the Republic last Christmas and only 4 per cent of Irish respondents said the international security situation was a worry for them. "I think the link to September 11th is much too tenuous. But there is a need to avoid copycat suicides, and to be aware about how the reporting of suicide can cause problems."
The CSO noted the figures related the period in which suicides were registered after inquests, which could be several months after the deaths themselves occurred. Mr O'Hare added the figures showed suicide among young men was still a huge problem. "Despite the efforts put in by health boards and other agencies. We are only just starting to get to grips with this".
He said one of the contributing factors was the stigma surrounding suicide.
The point was echoed by Dr Connolly, who said: "We need to fund psychiatric services to make them easier to use and less stigmatising." Calling for greater investment in research, Dr Connolly said "a lot of unco-ordinated effort and piecemeal funding has taken place so far."
For several years, the Department of Health has been considering establishing a national strategy on suicide prevention. However, it is yet to be forthcoming.
Meanwhile, the National Suicide Bereavement Support Network is holding a day-long conference on suicide prevention in Middleton, Co Cork this Saturday, May 25th, starting at 10 a.m. For details, call (024) 95561.
