FIVE OF the six cases that came before the Offaly Coroner’s Court this week involved mature men taking their own lives. That shocking event caused acting coroner Brian Mahon to draw public attention to “a really serious, developing situation” where suicide was becoming rampant, particularly in rural areas.
Suicide is every family’s worst nightmare and, traditionally, it is rarely discussed. That public attitude towards mental illness and suicide must change if help is to be provided for – and accepted by – people at risk.
In 1987 there were 245 registered suicides in the Irish Republic (population, 4 million), in 1998 there were 478 suicides in the Irish Republic. This is an increase of 110%. Many suicides in Ireland are not registered as suicide as there remains a stigma attached to a person taking their own life. Not so many years ago it was a crime to try or succeed in taking your own life. Hence the stigma remains.
It seems to me that rarely a week goes past now but I hear that someone has taken their own life. While for the person committing suicide it may appear that they are doing everyone a favour, they are in fact leaving behind a great deal of pain and hurt.
When my 22 year old cousin took his own life after a silly row with his girlfriend, my family was so very badly hurt. My Uncle has never recovered from having to bury his young son. Time and again we are reminded that people are struggling, that people need help, but our world is too busy to listen.
The suicide rate in Ireland today is averaging approx 500 persons per year, young and old, rich and poor. What common threat weaves them all together we will never know? I myself when I thought all was lost tried to take my own life, I was disappointed when I failed, but now I am glad I did not succeed.
Yesterday I attended the funeral of a young mother of three. She had disappeared on the 12th of this month. Many hundreds of people and the emergency services had worked tirelessly to find the young mother. But it was all in vein.
This young Mother, who had everything to live for, seems to have made her way to the near-by river and taken her own life. The Police (An Garda Siochana) are not investigating the matter. It appears that this young mother was suffering from depression. What a terrible tragedy to watch three young children walk behind their mother's coffin. Watch as their mother is placed in the ground as she begins her journey from this world.
The Priest speaking at the funeral said, "She was friendly and popular" and "Always put other people first". Surely we as a community, a people, wherever you are must ask why this is happening. Why people are so desperate that they feel the only way out is by death.
No flowers appeared in the Chapel yesterday, rather the family had placed collection boxes so that people could give money to the river rescue team who had tried so hard to find their loving mother and wife. A sea of tears filled the Chapel as hymns were carried by the cold morning air.
Hearts were broken yesterday, and hearts will continue to be broken by that cruel loneliness that brings a human being to an untimely death.
