Half of Irish people worried a loved-one may be suicidal, new research shows 

Half of the people in Ireland have worried that someone close to them may be at risk of suicide, according to new research by suicide-prevention charity Pieta.

The findings also show the importance of improving access to help.

A total of 40% of the respondents said they would not know where to direct someone who told them they were experiencing suicidal thoughts, or were unsure where to send them.

Meanwhile, 86% of respondents agreed that knowing where to direct someone for professional support would make them more likely to start a conversation.

According to the World Health Organisation, suicide is the third-leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds globally.

Ainé O’Donovan, senior lecturer in mental health at the school of nursing and midwifery at University College Cork, said that early intervention and social connection are key to suicide prevention and promoting positive mental health.

Ms O’Donovan said: “One of the big things that always comes back, and is particularly pertinent for those who are maybe experiencing suicidal ideation, is social connection. I can’t emphasise it enough. 

“Without social connection, we won’t survive as a society.”

It is not about “fixing” problems, she said. “It is about listening and it is about somebody feeling connected to somebody else.”

Society cannot increase suicide prevention or suicide awareness unless we all start working together.

“When I say all, it doesn’t mean necessarily all the services. But our communities, our sports clubs, our schools, our health services, all of them working together with a coherent approach.”

Martin Ryan, HSE South West resource officer for suicide prevention, told The Echo that mental health is just as important as physical health.

Mr Ryan said: “The key point for me is about being able to reach out for help when you feel you want to. 

“When you feel that life is getting on top of you, you need to know where to reach out.”

There are a number of steps that anyone can take right now to be proactive.

Mr Ryan said: “Almost everybody in our city and county has a mobile phone. 

“I am asking two things of that: One is for people to put in their phones the Samaritans number, which is 116123, and also to put in a website, which is yourmentalhealth.ie.

“If everybody in Cork did that, then what a support package we’d have around the city and county.”

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