One in 10 under 35 have attempted suicide, report shows

The latest survey by Healthy Ireland has found that a tenth of young people aged under 35 have tried to take their own life.

Professor Breda Smyth, Chief Medical Officer has expressed her extreme “concern” over the survey’s findings.

“We do know that our population has been significantly traumatised, as has the international population, with the pandemic. This has significantly affected mental health.” She also noted that “Suicide rates have increased in some areas.”

A range of health indicators were utilised in the survey’s findings, which includes combined data on suicide attempts in 2021 and 2022, as reported by the 4,281 participants in an online survey.

The study found that 67% of those who responded knew someone who had died by suicide, with a further 14% having known someone close to them.

The survey’s figures indicated that there were more suicides in Munster than any other province, with 73% or respondents having known someone in this situation. This is compared to 72% across Connaught/Ulster and 59% in Dublin.

There was a correlation found between chronic ill health and mental health with 15% of those describing their general health as “fair or bad”, and 9% of those with a long-standing health problem report making an attempt to take their own life.

Professor Smyth emphasised the “significant effort” made in recent years towards better supports and increased funding for mental health services, including CAMHS- the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Despite this “effort” advocacy groups have still cited the long waiting times for younger people who attempt to avail of support services.

The results of this year’s survey also conclude that smoking levels have remained at 18%- the first year since 2015 that rates have not dropped since the previous year. The proportion of those who smoke daily have dropped however to 14% from the 16% that did during the pandemic.

The 25 to 34 age bracket are the most likely to smoke with 24% of them doing so, with men more likely to smoke than women with figures standing at 21% and 15% respectively.

Binge-drinking findings indicate the habit is on the rise once more.

32% of those who drink over a six-month period were considered binge drinkers compared to 22% last year.

ALCOHOL: 22% of the population (aged 15+) are categorised as binge drinkers, compared with 20% in 2021, and 28% in 2018. The survey has also shown a decline in drinking frequency among 35 to 44 year olds. #HISurvey2022https://t.co/5ZHU1UWQAN pic.twitter.com/uxBx0xp4k5

— HealthyIreland (@HealthyIreland) December 5, 2022

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can find a list of support services here.

You can also call the HSE YourMentalHealth Information Line on freephone 1800 111 888, at any time day or night.