The provisional number of deaths by suicide in 2023 was the lowest recorded in more than 20 years, Cabinet was told on Tuesday.
According to Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler, the provisional figure for 2023 was 302 deaths. It’s worth taking a look at what that means.
Firstly, how accurate are these figures?
They are provisional. There is a significant time lag in reporting on deaths by suicide, and this number is likely to be revised upwards as coroner investigations conclude.
Given this is the lowest provisional figure recorded in more than two decades, however, it does suggest a trend of decline.
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Some experts believe official figures underestimate the true extent of suicide.
How does this compare with other countries?
Between 2000 and 2021, the last year for which there are finalised figures, Ireland saw a 28 per cent reduction in the suicide rate, falling from 12.9 per 100,000 to 9.2 per 100,000.
That meant Ireland recorded the 11th lowest suicide rate in the EU, according to Eurostat data.
That’s good, right?
It is progress. And it’s not the only positive sign. Self-harm, the biggest risk factor for suicide, decreased between 2010 and 2023 by 12 per cent.
However, Dr Sarah Thompson, chartered member of the Psychological Society of Ireland, said suicide figures don’t capture suicidal ideation.
“I work in the private sector and it really doesn’t feel like the rate is reducing because there is lots of suicidal distress where a person may never complete [suicide]. But they’re contemplating it and thinking about it and having suicidal thoughts and feelings,” she said.
“That’s obviously really distressing, that means there’s a lot going on for that person. We want to treat that, not just figure out who is going to complete or not. We want to treat all suicidality.”
What is driving the reduction in suicide rates?
Given suicide is a very complex topic, it can be difficult to know precisely a person’s reasoning.
Philip Watt, interim chief executive of Mental Health Reform, said a lot of work has been done to reduce suicide rates.
“To be fair to successive governments, there has been investment in the strategies on suicide and on non-fatal self-harm as well,” he said.
He also credited the work of non-governmental organisations, saying “they work closely with local communities and pick up on issues”.
Prof Jim Lucey, inspector of mental health services at the Mental Health Commission, said the reduction could be attributed to a number of factors, including responsible reporting of suicide that doesn’t glamorise it, as well as increased “openness to discuss mental health issues” in an inclusive and compassionate way.
Does the economy also have an impact?
Financial stress is widely acknowledged as a key risk factor for suicide. Deaths by suicide in Ireland peaked in 2012 during the recession, and the rate has been decreasing since then.
Prof Lucey mentioned Ireland’s high employment level, which was 74.3 per cent for those aged 15-64 in the fourth quarter of 2024. “It would seem to be credible ... that unemployment is really bad for the mental health of society,” he said.
“In 20 years, we’ve increased the number of opportunities for exercise, the number of opportunities for various forms of recreation. That’s also very good, though the impact of that is yet to be measured.”
What’s next?
Ms Butler will this year finalise a new strategy, which received more than 1,800 public submissions and aims to improve rates further, on suicide.
Dr Thompson said it is important to not view suicide as “something that just happens”.
“We treat the depression and hope the suicidality will resolve. We ask how suicidal you are, but we’re not actually intervening on your suicide. We need to intervene specifically with treatment in and of itself. Tracking it and treating it,” she said.
Prof Lucey said the “next step” in further reducing suicides is earlier intervention, assessment and care of people displaying symptoms of mental distress.
The Samaritans can be contacted on freephone: 116 123 or email: jo@samaritans.ie
