Suicide rates in Irish counties: 10 years later

Abstract

Objectives: This exploratory study was designed to explore the social correlates of suicides rates of Irish counties.Method: Suicide rates were calculated for Irish counties and subdivisions for the period 1988-1994 and correlated with social data for these regions obtained from the 1991 Census.Results: The suicide rates showed a low level of reliability for the periods 1978-1984 and 1988-1994, and the social correlates of suicide rates changed between the two periods. Whereas age structure was associated with suicide rates in 1978-1984, urbanisation was associated with suicide rates in 1988-1994.Conclusions: It is important to check the reliability of results of ecological studies of Irish suicide rates. Furthermore, the impact on suicide rates of the changing role of women in Ireland needs to be explored in time-series studies of the Irish suicide rate.

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Urban Living on Suicidality and Self-Harm in the UK and Ireland

“…Sample sizes ranged between 95 and 366,348 persons; these were individual participants, as opposed to events of suicidality and self-harm (one participant may experience more than one event of self-harm or suicide attempt). Eight studies did not record the total number of persons [ 29 , 31 , 34 , 35 , 37 , 39 , 41 , 50 ]. Most studies were conducted in England only ( n = 13), with eight in the Republic of Ireland, six in England and Wales, five in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland, and one in Wales only.…”

“…Five studies were completed across urban cities (Edinburgh, London, Wolverhampton, Bristol, with one study focussing on three cities, Oxford, Derby, and Manchester) [ 26 , 33 , 42 , 47 , 55 ], and one divided the city of London into inner and outer city areas [ 29 ]. One based the definition of urban–rural environment on a combination or variables derived from factor analysis [ 34 ].…”

“…An additional four studies assessed changes in rates of suicidality and self-harm across urban–rural environments between 1972 and 1996; again, results were inconclusive [ 33 – 36 ]. Over time, two studies reported an increase of suicidality and self-harm rates in urban environments [ 24 , 33 , 34 ]. However, two further studies reported a narrowing of urban–rural rates of suicidality and self-harm over time, resulting from an increase in rates of suicidality and self-harm in rural environments over more recent years [ 35 , 36 ].…”