Suicide among young men
Senator White describes suicide as a national crisis, linking rising deaths and mental distress to unemployment, and urges stronger Government action and use of mental-health funding.
I raise again a matter about which we spoke yesterday, which is suicide among young men. In 2011, 525 people died from suicide. I ask the Leader to think of the reaction if an airplane crashed in Ireland with 525 people on board. What would be the Government's reaction? It would wipe out a village. This is happening on an annual basis and my research indicates that the figure is higher than 525. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, failed to hold on to the €35 million she was allocated to deal with mental health last year. I was very disappointed. I am a fan of hers, but I was shocked that the money was not retained. It was allocated but not spent.
Comment on this
Make no mistake, there is a national crisis of suicide. The rate of suicide has increased due to a lack of employment for young men and others. Mental stress has increased substantially because of the economic situation and particularly because young people do not have jobs. When I co-founded Lír Chocolates in 1987, I saw the transformation in a person who got a job. The person's self-confidence changed completely. The increasing rate of unemployment is breaking the hearts and souls of young and middle-aged Irish men who cannot find a job. The Government must stop merely writing reports and spend the €35 million it said it would last year. Stop writing action plans for jobs and create more jobs.