Ireland has seen a surge in the number of suicides as families all over the country struggle with the impact of the economic crises. Sadly Limerick is also reflecting this trend as members of the Marine Search and Rescue team recently reported their highest ever number of callouts for people entering the river attempting to take their own lives. Most of these were young people who feel that they have no other means of escaping their problems. As a society we are losing too many young people in this heartbreaking and preventable manner.
While numerous suicide and mental health support organisations in Limerick and around the region are doing admirable work in assisting people suffering from depression and anxiety, the only way we can help to reduce hese grim figures is to tackle the issue within our own homes and social circles.
Suicide is often a last resort or a desperate plea for help, so the key in dealing with this crisis is to intervene before someone reaches that point.
If a friend or relative has become withdrawn, stops attending social occasions or appears out of sorts for a prolonged period, we all need to take responsibility to encourage them to talk about what might be causing them to feel down.
As a nation, we can find it difficult to talk about the big issues, and our natural response is to skirt around or make a joke about our problems.
Talking candidly about our state of mind does not come naturally to us, but while these conversations can be awkward and challenging to begin with, they need to be had.
We need to end the culture of suffering in silence, no one should feel that they need to deal with their problems alone for fear of how they will be judged by their peers and relatives.
Suicide is not the only way out of a dark place, the recovery could begin with a simple conversation.
