Suicides in Northern Ireland - did you know?

• Northern Ireland has a population of approximately 1.7 million
• In 2008, 282 deaths were registered as suicides (source: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency). Sadly, this is an increase on the previous year.
  
• During the period 1987 to 2003, a total of 2,586 deaths were registered as suicide
• The number of male suicides has increased steadily over recent years (during the late 1990’s and the early 2000’s). The female suicide rate has remained relatively constant over the same period.
• Protect Life: A Shared Vision is the Northern Ireland Suicide Prevention Strategy & Action Plan (2006 – 2011).

Statistics for the years 1999 - 2003 showed:

• More males die as a result of suicide than in transport accidents
• More males die through suicide than as a result of either accidental falls or poisoning
• More females die as a result of suicide than in transport accidents but fewer die as a result of suicide than from other external causes and accidental falls
• Incidents of suicide were most common in those aged between 25 to 34 years
• Suicide rates tended to be higher in urban than in rural areas

Unless otherwise stated, the above information was sourced from the Suicide Prevention Strategy Consultation documents. The main report can be found on the DHSSPS website or here.

• Suicide doesn’t just affect the younger generations - approximately one in eight of all suicides in Northern Ireland are in the over-60 age group (BBC News, June 2007).

Websites and points of contact

Note: The links are provided as a convenience only and should not be taken as an endorsement of any website, content, product or service. Visits to linked websites are at your own risk.

www.ageconcernni.org: Age Concern Northern Ireland is a voluntary organisation concerned with improving the quality of life for all older adults in Northern Ireland

www.contactyouth.org: Contact Youth work with young people in the 11-25 age range throughout Northern Ireland. They also offer a free 24/7 telephone counselling service, as part of a suicide prevention initiative.

www.heads-away-just-say.com: bereavement, relationship problems, depression, self-harm, peer pressure, bullying, school pressure, sex, alcohol, drugs and problems at home can be some of the difficulties young people and teenagers experience. This website suggests advice and help for dealing with such issues and provides contact details for many relevant organisations in Northern Ireland.

www.heademotionalwellbeing.com: We are all vulnerable to emotional and mental distress, with at least 1 in 4 of us experiencing such distress at some time in our lives. We can all improve our emotional wellbeing, understand it better, nurture and look after it. How do you view mental health? What are the myths and truths? We all need to change our thinking and more importantly our behaviour. This website can help.

www.help4kids.co.uk: This web site was conceived by the Northern Board to assist children, young people, their parents and professionals. It contains details and information on many (not all) of the services which exist to support children and young people with emotional or mental health issues.

www.mentalhealthwest.com: a website aimed, in part, at members of the public who would like information on the main mental health problems, in particular depression and anxiety. The 'Find a Service' section provides details of a range of mental health related services across the Western and North West regions of Northern Ireland.

www.mindingyourhead.info: from The Health Promotion Agency in Northern Ireland, this website contains information relevant to young people, adults, older people and professionals. The website has a Directory of Services relevant to Northern Ireland

www.niamh.co.uk: the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health provides services for those with mental health needs, their carers, mental health professionals and other agencies.

www.niamhlouisefoundation.com: suicide prevention and support across Armagh and Tyrone

www.pipsproject.com: PIPS stands for Public Initiative for the Prevention of Suicide and Self-Harm.

www.pipsnewryandmourne.org: P.I.P.S. Newry & Mourne was formed in 2003 by people who had personal experience of suicide in their family.  The groups aims are to create greater awareness of the problem of suicide and self-harm, and to offer people bereaved through suicide the chance to be themselves among friends who understand.

www.spescounselling.com: Spes Counselling is an 'Out of Hours', 'Rapid Response', 'Outreach' Crisis intervention service.

www.xchangesuicideprevention.org.uk: Xchange Suicide Prevention Craigavon.

www.zestni.org: passion for Life, Healing the Hurt of Self Harm & Suicide.

Downloadable information

'Look After Yourself and Others'. A downloadable poster for those living in the northern area. It provides useful contacts for practical support and services to help improve mental health and emotional well being'. Download the poster here

If you need someone to talk to now, please call Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90

Supporting suicide prevention in Northern Ireland