A CORONER IN Kerry has called for the helpline numbers for support groups to be made more available during “stringent times” as suicide rates remain at an elevated level across the country.
Terence Casey’s remarks to TheJournal.ie came after a court sitting during which he heard six suicide cases.
He said it was the highest incidence of suicides ever in one sitting.
Out of the eight cases to come before the Killarney court today, six inquiries involved suicide of men in the area.
All were male but the ages varied from between 16 and 58, said Casey.
He explained that many suicides occur between the hours of 10pm and 7am and that if helpline numbers were highlighted during these times, more people may receive the help they need.
“There is help out there,” he said. “Just make a phone call.”
He suggested that helpline posters should be installed in public houses where younger people frequent at night.
The coroner has spoken out previously about the growing rates of suicide in rural areas. He said he will continue to highlight the issue as long as deaths keep happening.
To contact Samaritans, visit www.samaritans.ie or call 1850 60 90 90.
Pieta House is a free service and can be contacted at 01 601 0000 or mary@pieta.ie. It runs two centres of excellence in Limerick and Dublin, as well as two outreach centres.
Other helplines include TeenLine Ireland 1800 833 634, Console 1800 201 890 and Aware at 1890 303 302.
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