'We are seeing tragedies all across the city': Dramatic increase in suicide attempts warns Cork fire officer 

CORK City Fire Brigade has seen a “dramatic” increase in suicides and suicide attempts over the past year, one of the city’s senior fire officers has said.

Victor Shine, second officer with Cork City Fire Brigade, told The Echo that call-outs to the city’s fire service relating to suicides and suicide attempts had increased “significantly” in the past 12 months.

“There is a mental health crisis in this country, and we are seeing a dramatic increase in calls over the past year,” said Mr Shine.

“It’s across all classes, all backgrounds, the very poor and the very wealthy alike, and we are seeing tragedies all across the city.

“The figures have gone up dramatically over the past year.”

Mr Shine said that senior officers in Cork’s fire service are involved in a number of fora which are involved in suicide prevention.

“It is a growing issue, and prevention has to be a serious priority,” he said.

Martin Ryan, HSE suicide prevention officer with Cork Kerry Healthcare, told The Echo that Cork City Council, An Garda Síochána, Cork City Fire Brigade, Cork City Missing Persons, the Samaritans, Pieta House, Jigsaw, and a number of other services were working together to better deliver suicide prevention services to those in need in the city.

“All of those services are linking in to ensure that while we identify someone, we are able to send through referrals very, very quickly and efficiently,” he said.

“If people have the courage to make a call for help, what’s important is that there is someone on the other side of the line that answers, and what is important is that people know the numbers to call.

“What we want to do is make sure that everyone in the city has the Samaritans’ number, 116-123, in their phone, if not for themselves, for someone that they might come across. The Samaritans are 42 years working in Cork city, voluntarily, 24/7, and they are ready for your call, and we work directly with them, we support them and their staff, and they are amazing ambassadors for people to support in our community.”

You can contact the Samaritans any time, day or night, 365 days a year, free, on 116-123, or email jo@samaritans.ie.

To speak with someone from Cork charity Shine A Light Mental Health and Suicide Awareness, email shinealightcork@gmail.com or private message the group on its Facebook page.

Contact Pieta House free, day or night, all year, on 1800-247247, or text HELP to 51444. Contact Childline on 1800-666666.

- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.