Amid growing concern at the number of men taking their own lives in rural areas, a three-year study into rural suicides is to be funded by Teagasc's Rural Economy Research Centre in Galway.
Áine Macken Walsh, a sociologist at the RERC, said the research will also seek to determine the exact numbers involved."We know the national suicide rate, but we have no breakdown between rural and other areas. We want to find out exactly what this is and the reasons for it," she said. Ms Macken Walsh added that while the EU incidence of suicide was falling, the Irish rate was increasing and there appears to be a very high level in rural areas, not just of young men but middle-aged men also. Rural female suicide was not being studied as the rate was lower.
Ms Macken Walsh will be one of the supervisors of the work carried out for a PhD study by Maria Feeney and funded by Teagasc. Ms Feeney will have access to people who have attempted suicide and this research should help provide some answers. Ms Macken Walsh said it would also cover the changes in farming which some farmers may feel reduces their male role.
Another area to be examined will be the relationship between traffic accidents and suicide, which has not been studied before.
She said the results from the project should be very useful, not only in a broader context but to Teagasc advisers who visit farms regularly. "Their role goes far beyond the business of farming and they will see farmers who perhaps are depressed or suicidal, and if they can recognise the signs they may be able to refer such people to agencies that can help."
Teagasc will be hosting a seminar at its Mellow's campus in Athenry, Co Galway, to discuss rural societal change and the growing incidence of suicide on Tuesday, August 28th
The event will be open to the public, community organisations and those who work in areas dealing with suicide.
The seminar will be given by Dr Harry Bohan, the sociologist and parish priest of Sixmilebridge, Co Clare.