The suicide rate in Ireland has doubled since the early 1980s, according to a new report from the Health Service Executive National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP).
In its first annual report for 2005 detailing the most up-to-date trends and data in rates of suicide and self-harm in Ireland, the NOSP found that 432 suicide deaths were registered by the Central Statistics Office, comprising 354 male suicides and 78 female suicides.
Some of the other key data outlined in the report shows that men under 35 account for around 40 per cent of all suicides and that suicide is at least four times more common in men than women.
Ireland also has the fifth-highest rate in the EU for suicides among 15- to 24-year-olds.
The report also found that over 11,000 cases of deliberate self-harm are seen in Irish hospitals every year and that the highest rates of deliberate self harm are among females aged 15 to 19.
Derek Chambers, of theHSE National Office for Suicide Prevention said: "Despite the relative stability in recorded rates, we must continue to reduce this level of suicidal behaviour while continuing to monitor age and gender patterns of suicide death.
"The figures reveal that suicide and self-harm are serious public issues in Irish society, and it is a phenomenon that continues to have devastating and tragic effects on a large number of individuals and families."
The report also outlines some of the programmes already established to combat issue of suicide and self-harm, including the development of deliberate self-harm response services in hospital A&E departments.