Teenagers' right to self-refer for counselling emphasised

Providing mental health services to young people without their parents' permission must be examined if suicide rates among adolescents and young adults are to be reduced, one of the State's foremost psychiatrists has said.

Dr Tony Bates, speaking at a conference on suicide prevention in Dublin yesterday, said young people's right to self-refer to mental health and counselling services "is an issue that needs to be resolved".

"Confidentiality and privacy are hugely, hugely important for young adults. They want to seek help without needing parental permission," he said.

Minister for Health Mary Harney told the conference that, in 2005, some 11,000 people presented at hospital accident and emergency departments after harming themselves - ie taking an overdose or cutting themselves. It is thought half of those who commit suicide have had a history of self-harm.

In 2005, a total of 431 people committed suicide in Ireland. Of these, 353 were men and 78 were women, said Ms Harney.

She said 48 per cent were men under the age of 25, and that Ireland had the fifth-highest incidence of suicide in the EU.

Dr Bates said more time must be spent listening to young people. They were spending large amounts of time expressing their fears and anxieties "in cyberspace" on such sites as MySpace. com and Bebo.com, when these feelings should be expressed in real, live relationships.

"Sometimes young people just need to know that what they are feeling is seen as real, that they are not alone, that feelings come and go and lots of people want them to stay alive."

Looking at what allowed a young person "to take the journey towards mental health", Dr Bates listed: being listened to; having a safe place to explore feelings; having feelings and experiences accepted; and building up trust. These were needed for a young person in turmoil to feel validated.

Dr Justin Brophy, a consultant psychiatrist, spoke on the links between alcohol, drug misuse and suicide. There was a "very direct correlation" between the increase in alcohol consumption here - up 300 per cent since the 1960s - and suicide.

"It's one of the single, most-important explanations. Alcohol is initially a stimulant, then a relaxant but ultimately a depressant," he said. "It reduces inhibitions and increases aggression. If one is feeling bad or down before drinking, alcohol is a dangerous combination, for young people in particular."

The huge increase in alcohol consumption was interfacing with the "collapse of spiritual certainties", while "people are confusing pleasure with contentment. We have become more pleasure-seeking and failing to find contentment," he said.

The conference was organised by Console, a support group for those bereaved by suicide.

Console can be reached on 01-8574300; The Samaritans on 1850-609090