Suicide figures in county still twice national average

HOPE New services aim to tackle problem

A new early intervention mental health service for young people is being set up.

In a presentation to councillors, the region’s Suicide Prevention Officer admitted more needs to be done to prevent people, and young people in particular, from taking their own lives.

Emer Mulligan said suicide “is a big issue in Co Cavan and one we’re working hard to address”. In a lengthy presentation at the July meeting of Cavan County Council, she noted suicide rates in Cavan have dropped over the past five years. However, they remain almost twice the national average.

The presentation followed criticism from elected members of a perceived poor response in communities when someone takes their own life.

Ms Mulligan told councillors that efforts are underway to prevent suicides across the county, including the appointment of two suicide crisis assessment nurses, one in Cavan and one in Monaghan. They work to provide supports to GPs if a patient presents with suicide-related thoughts, rather than them having to seek treatment in an Emergency Department.

However, she pointed out it can be a “challenge” to fill posts in mental health services. An Early Intervention Youth Mental Health Service is also being set up in the region. She said it will work with people between the ages of 12 and 25 years with “mild levels of distress or those struggling with anxiety, anger or other issues”.

“Some people find life difficult to cope with. This will equip them to cope with those difficulties,” she said.

Research

Consultants have also been engaged to carry out research on behalf of the HSE into the reasons people decide to take their own lives in this region. Ms Mulligan admitted that while figures for the rates of suicide can be easily gathered, little is known on the underlying causes.

“The risk factors aren’t known. We don’t know if there’s anything particular to Cavan. We hope this will shine a spotlight on communities.”

However, she said deprivation and poverty are known risk factors for suicide.

She noted rates are falling in the county but they remain the third highest in the country.

Rates are gathered in three-year intervals, with 14.6 suicides per 100,000 people recorded in Cavan between 2019 and 2021. That compares with the national average of 7.6/100,000.

Rates have fallen steadily from the 2016-2018 period when Cavan had the country’s highest rate. Over that timeframe, the county recorded 17.8 per 100,000, versus the national rates of 8.7/100,000.

Emer Mulligan noted ongoing work to reduce stigma around mental health and suicide, including the green ribbon programme and suidice prevention training.

Councillors had previously been critical of the response from agencies following a suicide. In May, Cllr Aiden Fitzpatrick (FF) hit out at the sending of leaflets to a local GAA Club after a sudden death, with him urging the HSE to “get real”.

A suicide bereavement liaison officer is appointed, according to Emer Mulligan, to “offer emotional and practical support”.

“It’s important to reinforce a sense of calm in communities as they’re often in a place of fear that it might happen again. It’s a tragedy but we want people to know there’s support,” she told councillors.

She said it was important to point out that “people connect most with people they know” and educating leaders in communities about suicide and its prevention is important.

“Information doesn’t heal but being informed can help.”

Councillors were broadly supportive of the work being done locally in the areas of suicide prevention and mental health but were critical of failings within the health service generally.

Aontú Cllr Sarah O’Reilly said there are “big failings” in Emergency Departments, with people waiting up to nine months for a referral to mental health services.

Drug and alcohol use have a part to play locally according to Fine Gael’s TP O’Reilly. He said “people have to take ownership” and “the services are there but it’s up to people to avail of them”.

Cllr Fitzpatrick said he’s “not convinced suicide numbers are going to go down” and that the “system’s not working and it needs review”.

He also noted that there is only one suicide prevention officer working across both Cavan and Monaghan.