Suicide, road traffic and cancer deaths among the young in Ireland

Abstract

Every young suicide occurring in Ireland from 1976 to 1993 was reviewed and comparisons made with deaths from road traffic accidents and deaths from cancer. As well as this, suicide occurring in the under 25 age group in a series of a hundred consecutive suicides were examined to see what methods were used and what treatments received. Whereas cancer deaths and road traffic deaths are falling among the young, suicide among young Irish males continues to rise. Few appear to have elected for psychiatric treatment in the year before their death. The research implications of these findings are discussed.