Irish National Suicide Mortality Data

Suicide rate trends by gender

Suicide rates increased steadily from a relatively low base rate in the early 1980s to an
unacceptable high in the late 1990s, peaking in 1998. There has been a levelling off of the
suicide rate since then, although it is too early to assess whether this is significant and on
going.

The ratio of male to female suicide rates is around 4 to 1.

Age pattern of suicide rates

In the past, suicide was more common among older people. Now, however, the frequency
of suicide is highest among men in their 20s.

An emerging trend in very recent years is the peaking of suicide rates amongst men in
their early, rather than late, 20s.

Suicide and road traffic accident deaths are two of the biggest causes of premature death
in modern Ireland.

The rate of suicide deaths in Ireland has exceeded that of RTA fatalities every year since
1997.

Suicide accounts for 2% of all deaths in Ireland each year i.e. one in every 59 Irish deaths
is by suicide.

Suicide accounts for 3% of all male deaths - put differently, one in every 38 male deaths
in Ireland is by suicide.

Suicide accounts for 1% of all female deaths in Ireland or one in every 143 female
deaths in Ireland is by suicide.

The highest rate for the overall population is among 20 to 24 year olds.

This peak is most pronounced among young men (20-24 years old).

The peak rate for females is in the early 50s (50-54 years old).

Method of suicide
Hanging is the most common method of suicide in Ireland accounting for nearly three out
of every five suicide deaths.

The prevalence of suicide by hanging is more pronounced among younger people, suicide
by drowning increases in prevalence among older people who die by suicide.

The prevalence of different suicide methods in the population is reflected in the

prevalence of suicide method among males, hanging being the most common method,
followed by drowning.

For females, suicide by hanging is also the most common method although less prevalent
(41% Vs 61% for males), followed by drowning and poisoning (28% and 23%
respectively Vs 15% and 11% for males).

The most common methods of suicide in Ireland, hanging and drowning, are difficult to
restrict access to, presenting a challenge in the prevention of impulsive suicidal acts
involving those methods.