Despite suicide levels increasing steadily in Louth, our biggest suicide prevention organisation, SOSAD, still receives no government funding
Louth has been highlighted as an area of suicide concern after a new HSE report showed that the rate of suicides in the county has risen steadily since 2006.
The rate from 2006-2008 was 11.2 per 100,000 of the county’s population. This grew to 11.8 from 2007 to 2009 and the latest figures show it stands at 13.1 for the period 2008-2010.
The data in the report has been aggregated into three year moving averages, providing data for five different time periods in order to allow any potential trends to be identified.
Louth has been pinpointed in the report as an area showing a “steady increase”, along with Kerry, Laois, Offaly, South Tipperary and Westmeath.
The report also found that, relative to the national rate, a high rate of deliberate self-harm was recorded for men living in Louth.
The latest stats show that per 100,000 of population, only Offaly, Kerry, Leitrim, Cork, Laois, Westmeath, Tipperary North and South and Waterford had higher levels of suicides than Louth.
Despite this, the largest suicide prevention organisation in the county – SOSAD – continues to receive no government funding.
Louth GAA was praised in the report – titled the National Office for Suicide Prevention’s Annual Report 2012 – for their efforts in tackling the problem head on through education and openness.
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