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SUICIDE IS THE leading cause of death for young people in Europe, with suicides rates rising following a decline before Covid-19, according to new research from Eurofound.
The Dublin-based EU think tank also found that in Ireland, despite improvements to mental health services, “significant” mental health issues exist – largely relating to economic and housing pressures.
Eurofound’s report on mental health in Europe found that, in 2021, suicide accounted for 18.9% of deaths in people aged between 15 and 29-year-olds, ahead of traffic collisions which accounted for 16.5% of deaths.
In total, poor mental health resulted in 11.1 million years of life lost or lived with disability in 2021.
The report also found that men are over three times more likely to die by suicide than women, even though women are more likely to report poor mental health and seek care for it.
Following a recent increase in the number of suicides among women under 20 and men over 85, these groups were also classed as vulnerable to suicide.
The report said there has been some positive improvement relating to mental health in Ireland. Inpatient admissions for depressive and anxiety disorders have returned to pre-pandemic levels and there has been a 20% increase in the mental health workforce over the past five years.
However, economic pressures were found to impact the mental health of 32% of the population, while 26% of people were affected by the housing crisis.
Financial worries impact 57% of adults and are closely linked to higher rates of depression, especially among the unemployed.
Social media was also highlighted as an issue. 44% of Irish adults said social media worsens their stress and anxiety, and a quarter of young girls said it negatively affected their mental health.
The report said mental health access “remains a critical barrier in Ireland.”
In 2023, nearly 40% of people delayed seeking help due to stigma or fear of judgment, while a third did not know where to turn.
Shortages and long waiting times, particularly for child and adolescent services, are also a problem, with 17% of people in rural areas reporting a lack of local services.
The report noted that although free counselling is available in some areas, waiting times and other accessibility issues often mean that the private sector is the only option.
The main issues identified as impacting mental health included the shift from physical to digital working and living environments, and climate change.
Social insecurity, inequality and people’s concerns about their economic situation were also highlighted as playing a role, notably during the cost-of-living crisis.
Lower socioeconomic groups, people working in healthcare and social services, and marginalised groups face a higher risk of poor mental health.
The report found that improved living and working conditions and enhancing social inclusion can improve mental health.
It noted that although many EU countries offer free or low-cost mental healthcare, nearly half of those experiencing mental health problems rate the quality of care services below five out of ten.
The report said the main barriers to mental health support are stigma, discrimination and capacity limitations, as well as gendered issues further impacting men.
If you have been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this article, you can reach out for support through the following helplines:
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