Dublin: Stigmas Around Mental Ill Health Prevalent Still: SURVEY

Some 65% of people say being treated for a mental health problem is viewed by Irish society as a sign of failure, according to a new survey.

The survey, carried out by St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services and published today to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day indicates that stigmas associated with mental health issues are still prevalent.

"The fact that 65% of people surveyed acknowledge that being treated for a mental health problem is viewed by Irish society as a sign of failure is very disappointing," said Paul Gilligan, CEO of St Patrick’s Hospital.

"People that proactively seek and receive help are taking a courageous step on the road to recovery (and) Irish society should encourage and support this," Mr Gilligan added.

"While there are many mental health public awareness campaigns being run throughout Ireland there is a need to tackle these misunderstandings and stimatising attitudes and this is best achieved through a concerted schools based education campaign."

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This research was conducted online, with 506 adults aged between 18 and 70 taking part.

Among the findings were:

- 65% of respondents acknowledge that being treated for a mental health problem is viewed by Irish society as a sign of failure;
- One in five of those survedy would not trust someone who previously had a mental health problem;
- 53% of respondents have worked with somebody with a mental health difficulty;
- 58% disagree that Irish people would treat someone with a mental health problem the same as anyone else;
- Only 54% hold the view that Irish people would willingly accept someone with a mental health problem as a close friend.

Meanwhile a higher proportion of women (28%) than men (20%) report having been treated for a mental health issue.

"Mental health issues and suicidal ideation are linked however this does not mean that if you have a mental health issue you will attempt suicide," Mr Gilligan added.

www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/video-see-why-its-okay-to-talk-about-mens-mental-health-285579.html 

"Today, on World Suicide Prevention Day, our focus must be on removing as many barriers as possible to people with mental health difficulties seeking the help and support they require."

Meanwhile Junior Minister for Mental Health Kathleen Lynch will address Console'sannual conference on suicide prevention in Dublin this morning.

Paul Kelly, CEO and founder of Console, is calling on Minister Lynch to invest more money in mental health services.

"There are major cutbacks in the health service and we would be advocating that more investment is needed in mental health services and in the area of suicide prevention," Mr Kelly said.

"We welcome the Minister attending this morning and these will be topics that are open for discussion among delegates at the conference."

Cork/Kerry: Boys Who Self-Harm At Greater Risk Of Suicide: Research

Teenage boys in counties Cork and Kerry are six times more likely to die by suicide than teenage girls.

The research suggests that all boys who present at hospital having self harmed must be viewed as serious suicide risks

The National Suicide Research Foundation study shows wide gender differences between boys and girls around self-harm and suicide, with boys who self-harm at a far higher risk of killing themselves later.

The study, of 15-17-year-olds, found that for every 16 boys that are hospitalised for self-harming, one will die by suicide later. In contrast, one in every 162 girls who present at hospital after self-harming will later kill themselves.

It found that the rate of hospitalisation for self-harm was twice as high among girls than boys, suggesting that girls are more likely to seek medical help than boys.

The study found that self-harming at home or in the community is far higher among teenage girls than boys.

The study also found that for every boy who dies by suicide, 146 will self-harm in the community without ever accessing hospital care. For every female who dies by suicide, 3,296 will self harm at home.

Post-doctoral psychology researcher, Dr Elaine McMahon, said the suicide ratios could suggest that boys are more prone to impulsive behaviour than girls, who can “internalise” more.

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“Self-harming is rarer in boys and for those that do, we must recognise that they are at high risk of suicide and so we must target them in suicide prevention strategies,” she said.

Dr McMahon said there was a plethora of reasons why young people seek to self-harm. “It can be a cry for help, attention-seeking or a means of dealing with unbearable emotions,” she said.

The school survey also revealed that out of those who self-harmed without going to hospital, 59% of boys used cutting as did 58% of girls.

Of the self-harmers who were hospitalised, 25% of the boys used cutting compared to 14.6% of the girls. Overdose was the most common type of self harm among teenagers presenting at hospital with 72.8% of girls overdosing and 54.2% of boys.

The school survey, published in the Journal of Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, also showed that drug abuse and knowing a peer who self-harmed were strong factors in both boys and girls self-harming.

Boys who were bullied, felt anxious, had problems at school or who admitted to impulsivity, were more likely to self-harm.

Girls who self-harmed admitted to poor self-esteem, a family member self-harming and forced sexual activity.

Previous research from the NSRF showed that over two thirds of people who took their own lives in the past three years knew a family member or friend who had taken their own life or tried to. It found the majority of suicides happened within 12 months of experiencing a friend or family member taking their own lives.

OXFORD: Recession The Cause Of Upsurge In Suicide Rates: Research

The recent recession may have led to thousands of extra suicides, researchers have said. The financial crisis has been linked to more than 10,000 people taking their own lives across Europe and North America between 2008 and 2010 during the financial crisis, the study suggests.

The research, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, shows that suicide rates "rose significantly" after the 2007 crash.

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Experts from the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said the increase was four times higher among men.

They analysed data from the World Health Organisation about suicides in 24 EU countries, the US and Canada.

Between 2007, when the economic crisis began, and 2009, suicide rates rose in Europe by 6.5%, they found. The rates remained at this elevated level through to 2011.

This corresponds to an additional 7,950 suicides than would have been expected across these EU countries, they said.

Before the recession suicide rates had been falling in Europe, they noted.

In addition, suicide rates in Canada and the US rose by 4.5% and 4.8%, respectively, during the same time.

Overall there were at least 10,000 additional suicides as a result of the economy's downward slide, the authors said. But they said that this is a "conservative" estimate.

Job loss, home repossession and debt are the main risk factors leading to suicide during economic downturns, they said.

"There has been a substantial rise in suicides during the recession, greater than we would have anticipated based on previous trends," said lead author Dr Aaron Reeves, of Oxford University's Department of Sociology.

"A critical question for policy and psychiatric practice is whether suicide rises are inevitable.

"This study shows that rising suicides have not been observed everywhere so while recessions will continue to hurt, they don't always cause self-harm.

"A range of interventions, from return to work programmes through to anti-depressant prescriptions, may reduce the risk of suicide during future economic downturns."
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Co-author Professor David Stuckler, also from the University of Oxford, added: "Suicides are just the tip of the iceberg. These data reveal a looming mental health crisis in Europe and North America.

"In these hard economic times, this research suggests it is critical to look for ways of protecting those who are likely to be hardest hit."

Most suicides are among people with clinical depression, and the research revealed a marked rise in antidepressant use during the economic downturn.

In the UK, prescriptions of the drugs soared by 19% between 2007 and 2010.

Programmes that actively help people who are out of work appeared to reduce the number of suicides, according to the findings.

The researchers estimated that every $100  (€73) spent per head on assistance for the unemployed lowered the risk of suicide by 0.4%.

Austria, Sweden and Finland were examples of countries where suicide rate did not rise markedly despite rising unemployment during the 2008-2010 recession.

In Sweden and Finland, the rate remained stable while in Austria it actually decreased.

Those few industrialised countries that escaped the recession, such as New Zealand, also avoided a rise in suicides, the study found.

In the EU, the number of suicides per 100,000 of the population declined from just under 12 to around ten between 2001 and 2006.

Then it began to rise, increasing by 6.5% before levelling out in 2009/10.

Related Stories

• Irish suicide rate one of highest in Europe

New Dublin Bridge Honours 1916 Veteran Rosie Hackett

• The newest bridge over the Liffey was officially unveiled today in honour of a forgotten hero of Ireland's fight for independence. Link to photo's: 
• https://picasaweb.google.com/100853986949465414816/therosiehackettbridgedublincityireland 

The Rosie Hackett Bridge remembers the 1916 veteran and is the first link across the river to be named after a woman.

Leo Varadkar, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, said the tribute makes some amends for the airbrushing of women out of Irish history. Rosie Hackett died in 1976 aged 84.

She was buried in Glasnevin cemetery with full military honours after devoting her life to activism, and aside from fighting in the Rising at Stephen's Green and the Royal College of Surgeons, she was a trade union leader for 60 years, a workers' organiser and rights campaigner, nurse and prisoner.

Hackett was also a founding member of the Irish Citizens Army and the only woman present the night the Proclamation was printed.

Mr Varadkar said the opening of the new bridge, and its name, sends out a strong statement.

"It is a recognition that we for too long have forgotten our own history," he said.

"For too long we have accepted a lopsided account of our past, and the Irishwomen who worked heroically with Irishmen to create a new future.

"Rosanna Hackett was just one of many women who played a crucial part in our history. But by honouring her, we honour all those who have been unjustly forgotten."

The bridge, which runs from Burgh Quay on the south of the Liffey to Eden Quay, will carry the Luas, taxis and buses.

It is the 21st bridge over the Liffey in the city.

Dublin city councillors selected Rosie Hackett last year after a shortlist of 17 had been finalised following a public vote.

Labour Youth, Labour Women, the National Women's Council of Ireland and senior trade union figures backed the Hackett campaign.

She beat stiff competition from the likes of James Connolly, WB Yeats and Bram Stoker.

Mr Varadkar said when people cross the bridge they will be reminded of who Rosie Hackett was and what she did.

"Tourists and visitors to the city will Google her name, and discover the part she played in winning Irish freedom. They will hear about her courage, and her example," he said.

"Curious children will read about her life, and be inspired to go off and read more about her, and the other men and women of that period.

"By building a bridge, and naming it after Rosie Hackett, we have caused ourselves to overcome our narrow view of the past, and embrace a better vision of the kind of Ireland we all want to see.

"It connects us with a part of our history that we had lost, or ignored. It reminds us of the ideals and aspirations of the leaders of the revolutionary period, what we have achieved, and what we still need to do."

Dublin: Crippling Depression Top Cause Of Illness And Suicide In World's Teenagers: WHO Report

UPDATE: Childline was contacted by children in need of help or support over 664,000 times last year in this country.

The charity responded to 463,396 of these contacts through its phone and web based services, it said today. Throughout 2013, a significant number of children were talking about abuse and welfare with 13.5 per cent of phone contacts and 15 per cent of online contacts relating to this area.

Another cause of concern for the charity was the number of times they were contacted about mental health issues. Figures indicate children are more likely to talk about this online, as 20 per cent of online contacts related to this while nine per cent of phonecalls related to it.

Last year Childline answered its five millionth call. The charity also upgraded it’s website so it was compatible with tablet and mobile devices with funding it received from the National Office for Suicide Prevention and opening hours for its live web and text services were also expanded.

The charity released the figures today ahead of International Child Helpline Day which takes place tomorrow.

“Our members receive many calls every year related to abuse, violence, mental health and family relationships,” commented director of Child Helpline International. “Call rates are also increasing by an average 5 per cent a year, meaning that helpline demand doubles every 15 years. By continuing to listen to children and young people in this fast changing world, we hope to empower them with information, support and care into the future”.

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UPDATE: Some 13% of 16-year-olds have admitted self-harming in the last year.

The finding is just one contained in new research carried out by Queen' University Belfast.

Almost a third of teenagers say they have experienced serious mental health problems in the last 12 months. Some 86% said they felt stressed in school.

A total of 1,367 16-year-olds from across the North took part in the survey.

Dr Dirk Schubotz from Queen’s University carried out the research. He said: "This a growing issue. They feel tremendously stressed. It's something we really have to take seriously."

Some studies show that half of all people who develop mental disorders have their first symptoms by the age of 14

Depression is the top global cause of illness and disability for adolescents, with suicide the third-biggest cause of death, the World Health Organization has said.

The finding is in a new report by the UN agency.

It has pulled together a wealth of published evidence with direct consultations with 10 to 19-year-olds around the world to assess the health issues that affect them.

Some studies show that half of all people who develop mental disorders have their first symptoms by the age of 14, said the report.

The study looked at a broad range of issues, including tobacco, alcohol and drug use, HIV, injuries, mental health, nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, and violence.

Traffic injuries were the number two cause of illness and disability, behind depression, with boys three times more likely to die than girls.

WHO said it was crucial for countries to reduce the risk by increasing access to reliable and safe public transport, improve road safety regulations such as alcohol and speed limits, establish safe pedestrian areas around schools and graduated licensing schemes where drivers' privileges are phased in over time.

Worldwide, an estimated 1.3 million adolescents died in 2012, it said.

The top three causes of death globally were road traffic injuries, HIV/AIDS, and suicide.

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HIV was the second cause of deaths in adolescents globally, WHO said, with estimates suggesting the number of HIV-related deaths among adolescents was rising.

This was predominantly in Africa, at a time when HIV-related deaths were decreasing in all other population groups.

"We must not let up on efforts to promote and safeguard the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, including HIV," said WHO scientist Jane Ferguson, lead author of the report.

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For adolescent girls alone, the second-biggest killer after suicide was complications during childbirth.

That was despite major progress on that front, WHO said, with death-rates plummeting since 2000 -- by 57 percent in Asia, 50 percent in the Middle East and 37 percent in Africa.

Other infectious disease also remained major killers, despite marked successes such as a 90-percent decline in death and disability from measles in Africa over the past decade, thanks to childhood vaccination.

Common infectious diseases that have been a focus for action in young children were among the hardest-hitting.

For example, diarrhoea and lower respiratory tract infections ranked second and fourth among causes of death in 10 to 14-year-olds.

Combined with meningitis, these conditions accounted for 18 percent of all deaths in this age group, little changed from 2000, WHO said.

Keywords: depression, health, world health organization