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Updated 22:58
PEOPLE EMPLOYED, OR those previously employed in the construction/production sector accounted for over two fifths of suicide cases recorded over a four-year period, between September 2008 and June 2012. A break-down of the figures shows that of the men who took their own lives, almost half had been working in construction.
Farmers and agricultural workers were second on the list of groups most at risk, at 13.2 per cent. That was followed by those in sales/business development at 8.9 per cent, and students at 8.2 per cent.
In terms of employment status: a third were classified as unemployed; 40.6 per cent were in paid employment; 11.4 per cent were retired; 5 per cent had a long term disability and 3.1 per cent were homemakers.
The figures cover 307 deaths recorded by the Suicide Support and Information System, which published its findings in a report today. Coroner checklists were completed for all cases.
The majority of suicides recorded (over 80 per cent) were men; of those most were single (57 per cent) and 48.6 per cent had been working in the construction sector.
Looking at female cases, most were married or in a long term relationship (46.7 per cent) and a relatively high number had been working in the healthcare sector (26.5 per cent).
‘Cluster’ cases
A number of ‘clusters’ were also identified: the first involved 13 cases that occurred in County Cork over a three month period, from April to June 2011, and covering a 24km radius. As the expected number of cases would have been 1.86, the number represents a 6.9 fold increase in suicide cases.
The second cluster, also in Co Cork, involved seven cases over a two month period within a radius of 28km and represented a 13-fold increase in expected cases.
Recommendations
The report makes a number of recommendations, including that in areas of emerging clusters, “it is recommended to encourage involvement of GPs and other primary care professionals in a response plan and in early identification of people at risk of suicidal behaviour”.
In addition, the report states that given the link between the impact of the recession and the numbers taking their own lives, “suicide prevention programmes should be prioritised during times of economic recession”.
The full report can be viewed at the National Suicide Research Foundation Website >
Originally published 19:10
I sat the leaving cert in 2004. Science in UCD was 290, now it’s 500. Such a difference.
Just looking at those points, I’m still surprised that some Software courses are not that high. Computer Science in UL is 325?
Computer Science in UCC is 340, now third lowest points. Above Arts and International development and food policy. In ’09 CS was 300.
aine hyland claims that the raise in entry points for maths based courses will lead to a falling off in the failure rate on those courses (as students had previously found them too difficult)
you get 25 extra for higher maths. the course requirement goes up by 25. so, you will obviously be far more able for the maths. 25 points extra and the resultant rise in entry requirements hve magically improved students ability to do maths?!!! irish solution etc
Is it 25 bonus points for higher level maths no matter what result you get? Or is it 25 bonus points for an A1 and then dropping by five points each grade after that? That’s what it used to be in UL right?
25 points for anyone who passes (so a D3)…
Seriously? With project maths? Are they having a laugh. They’re all going to fail first year if the course has a maths module that’s even remotely difficult. The engineering courses are going to see huge fail rates.
Well the individual courses should really have a maths requirement to get into them if they are mathematically focused. That would prevent those that arent’ capable from taking them up.
They do. But it’s no good if the maths course isn’t up to scratch. It’s wildly underestimating the students. It’s patronising and insulting and it’s a cheap copout to avoid hiring and training better maths teachers for secondary schools.
Thankfully I had more than enough for my first choice in Trinity but sadly a lot of students were disappointed. For example one course went up by 115 points.
have your say