The number of deaths by suicide rose during the recession and the increased rate observed between 2007 and 2012 ‘can be wholly attributed' to an increase in the number of men dying by suicide, a new report has found.

According to the 2014 Annual Report of the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP), 541 people died by suicide in 2012, 82% of whom were men. This high male-to-female ratio ‘is a constant feature of deaths by suicide over the years', the report said.

"Since 2007, particularly since the onset of the economic recession in Ireland in 2008, there has been an increase in the suicide rate in Ireland. The increase observed between 2007 and 2012 can be wholly attributed to an increase in the male rate of suicide," it noted.

While the number of suicides overall has begun to fall since 2012, men still make up the majority of deaths. Last year, 459 people died by suicide, 368 of whom were men. In 2013, 475 people died by suicide, 396 of whom were men.

In 2012, when 82% of suicides involved men, the highest rate was found among those aged between 45 and 54. The lowest suicide rate was in men aged 65 or older.

The report found that between 2011 and 2013, the highest rates of suicide overall were in Limerick city, Wexford, Kerry and Cork city, while the lowest rates were found in Fingal in Dublin, Tipperary north and Dun Laoghaire in Dublin.

The report also revealed that in 2014, 8,708 people presented to hospitals with 11,126 cases of self-harm. This figure was ‘essentially unchanged' from 2013, however it is ‘still significantly higher than the pre-recession rate in 2007'.

"Between 2007 and 2010, there was an increasing trend in the rate of self-harm in Ireland, with a 20% increase overall during this period. The largest increase was seen among men, where the rate went from 162 per 100,000 to 211 per 100,000 (+30%)," the report said.

It noted that while the rate of self-harm is higher among females overall, this gender gap has been narrowing in recent years, with 2010 recording the smallest difference between the rates (10%).

The highest rate of self-harm is among younger people. In females, the highest rate is in those aged between 15 and 19, while in males, it is in the 20-24 age group.

While the incidence of self-harm appears to decrease in males as they get older, this happens to a lesser extent among women, as self-harm rates remain relatively stable across the 30-54 age group.

The report emphasised that repeated self-harm is a ‘significant risk factor for suicide', therefore those who present to hospital repeatedly should be targeted for suicide prevention, which includes appropriate aftercare.

"Of the total number of presentations made to Emergency Departments in 2014, more than one in five (22 %) were due to repeat acts of self-harm. Of the 8,708 individuals treated for self-harm in 2014, 1,264 (14.5%) made at least one repeat presentation to hospital during the calendar year. This proportion is higher than that recorded in 2013 (13.8%)," the report found.

Commenting on the report, NOSP director, Gerry Raleigh, highlighted the fact that for every Irish person that dies by suicide, ‘many others attempt to end their lives and many more experience the despair that leads them to consider suicide'.

"In communities across Ireland, suicide generates feelings of grief, apprehension and concern. However, our national conversation is growing and we are becoming better at discussing and addressing issues relating to our mental health," he pointed out.

The 2014 Annual Report can be viewed here