NOTE:
In view of the recent deaths of young people in Portadown Lurgan and Craigavon, it is not possible as yet to compile any form of accurate statistics.This is due to the fact that precision and accuracy are all important , and whether a young death is a suicide or not cannot be confirmed until after a coroners finding at a particular inquest.This takes time, therefore at this point in time -October 2009, we do not have these statistics.It is preferable to refer to these deaths as simply young deaths rather than a suicide.Updates to be published soon on this page!Watch this space,
Recent research sources ( Source: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency) have published data which indicates the number of suicides in Northern Ireland over the past decade. The Samaritans have also published statistical information for Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Here is a summary of what both organizations have found.
In the years between 1997 - 2006, there were the following:
14.5% decrease in the Republic of Ireland
12.5% decrease in Scotland
10% decrease in England
7% decrease in the United Kingdom
7.5% decrease in the Uk and republic of Ireland
By contrast the following statistics are worthy of note:
111% increase in Northern Ireland
26.5% increase in Wales
If you are a journalist or a student doing a research project, be cautious about interpreting statistics as international comparisons of suicide rates differ according to the established criteria.
Note: Journalists - please go to the Resources box at the bottom of the site where you will find current guidelines for the ethical reporting of suicides and interpretation of statistics.
Recent statistical information concerning suicide can be had from the following website: http://www.samaritans.org/know/information/suicide_stats.shtm
As new information becomes available form Government sources they are added to the folder Suicide Statistics.
Here in Northern Ireland we have a current population of 1.7 million.
In 2007 alone, 242 deaths were registered as completed suicides.
If you examine the statistical trends between1987 to 2003, you will see that
A total of 2,586 deaths were registered as suicide. Male suicide rates have continued to rise and more particularly during the late 1990's and into the millennium. By gender, female suicides have remained relatively constant during the same period. A more recent phenomenon is that there is some tentative evidence that teenage females are now beginning to use masculine oriented techniques for terminating their young lives rather than overdosing.
Further detailed information can be had from the Government source:
Protect Life: A shared vision is the Northern Ireland Suicide Prevention Strategy & Action Plan (2006- 2011).
In a recent Queen's University Belfast report by Mike Tomlinson, he points out that about 150 suicides were recorded annually between 2000 and 2004, but by 2006 that figure had risen to 291. He argued that the end of the conflict in Northern Ireland may have brought its own problems. Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said that understanding the causes of suicide was of paramount importance. He is quoted as saying " I believe this report will be extremely useful in helping us to begin to unravel the effects of the troubles on the mental health of the people in Northern Ireland, in particular, it highlights a number of areas that will require further research. In the future, it will help us better target suicide prevention and mental health promotion measures".
The main findings of the Tomlinson report was that people in Northern Ireland report higher levels of happiness than I many parts of Europe and further afield, yet this sits alongside high levels of unhappiness and psychological distress. Secondly,the author found that people who live in an area heavily affected by violence tend to have very high rates of depression. Thirdly, The troubles affected the way suicide was reported and recorded, and limited public recognition of suicide and self harming as serious public issues. Fourthly, during the transition to peace, people are more willing to report depression and finally, those bereaved by suicide need to be researched besides suicides which relate to a specific neighbourhood.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists have pointed out (see: http://www. rcpsych.ac.uk/pressparliament/pressreleases2006/pr912.aspx
that the average annual rate of suicide was calculated for the ten year period 1984-1993 and compared with the 9-year period 1994 - 2002. It was found that the average annual rate of suicide increased by 4.7%. female suicides decreased by 17% but the average annual rate of male suicides increased by 13.2%. The highest percentage increase was seen in males aged 25-34 ( 34%), followed by the 15 - 24 age group (26.5%). The greatest increase was seen in the average annual rate among single young people ( males 24% and females 28.6%). There was a decrease in the average annual rate for all methods of suicide except hanging, where there was an increase of 99.4% in males and 87.8% in females.
Finally, the researchers have found that the rising trend in suicides in Northern Ireland is largely the result of the increase in suicides amongst young males aged 15 - 34. The rate of suicides in young females seem to be on the decrease.