The rate of suicide among young males is more than six times as high as among young females, but Male bias in suicide statistics, study finds women are more likely to attempt to kill themselves, according to a Barnardos policy paper issued yesterday.
Of the 368 people aged 24 and under who took their lives between 1994 and 1997, 318 were male, the charity said.
However, the paper, entitled Responding to Youth Suicide and Attempted Youth Suicide in Ire- land, said "parasuicidal behaviour" is more likely among females.
The charity found that although youth suicide is "a growing reality" in this State, "it is difficult for society to acknowledge, never mind respond to" the problem.
The paper recommends a range of counselling and support services for young people and their parents.
It found "a particular challenge in developing services which can reach less populated parts of the country".
Telephone helplines targeted at teenagers could help curb the high rates of youth suicide in rural areas, the paper said.
It questioned the counselling and psychological services available to schools which were "significantly understaffed".
Community-based youth counselling services, such as "buddy" systems, where trained young adults provide support to teenagers, could also help, the paper said.
Barnardos called for improved services for people who attempted suicide, pointing to the need for "smooth linkages" between Accident & Emergency departments and appropriate follow-up psychiatric services.
Counselling services should also link with general practitioners and other local agencies to create constant support, the charity said.
Such services should be in continued contact with young parasuicides and be sufficiently flexible so that they could be accessed without undue delay.
Parents coming to terms with suicides and attempted suicides lacked support, the paper said. Bereavement services were underdeveloped in Ireland, it added, and should be significantly boosted.
Parents should also meet the doctors, counsellors or psychiatrists who dealt with their child before the suicide.
All parents should be able to access information which would help them to identify warning signs and would encourage them to refer young people to appropriate services, the paper said.
Barnardos said the suicide or attempted suicide of a young person could have a lasting impact on their friends and the local community. Schools and youth organisations needed guidance to deal with such a situation.
The paper highlighted the often close relationship between mental illness and suicide. Evidence was growing of a link with alcohol and substance abuse, it claimed.
Relationship problems, confused sexual identity and poverty or ill-health within the family were also found to be reasons for suicide.
The paper also asked whether greater societal tolerance of violence, increasing pressure on young people to succeed educationally and professionally, and the freer availability of alcohol, illegal drugs and prescribed drugs had contributed to the increase in youth suicide.
