Children who do not learn how to solve their own problems and who are overprotected may face an increased risk of suicide later in life, an Irish GP has warned.

According to Dr Harry Barry, children who do not learn how to solve their own problems ‘sometimes lack the resilience to be able to find solutions to life crisis events' later in life.

"Parents have a massive role to play in not overprotecting children and helping them to problem solve rather than solving problems for them," he insisted.

He pointed to research which has shown that many people who die by suicide have been stressed ‘for a considerable period of time'. This is evidenced by the level of stress hormones in their bodies.

"This is critical, as the more the emotional brain is swamped by trying to deal with the stressor, the higher the stress hormones climb, attacking the logical mind and its ability to solve the problem. Eventually the emotional mind can only see the problem and is unable to see any solution other than death as a way of handling the emotional trauma which ensues," Dr Barry explained.

He noted that the key to breaking this deadly cycle of stress and suicide ‘is the ability to adapt and problem solve'.

"We need to teach our children resilience. Real resilience is all about teaching people to problem solve what they can with the help of others and to change their perspective about issues they can't alter. They need to try and solve each component part if possible, starting with the easiest and moving on to the hardest," he said.

He emphasised that this must start in early childhood ‘and should be embedded in the mind of the young person before the teenage years, when the crisis times often emerge'.

"In my own work, particularly with young men in their 20s and 30s, I find helping them to learn this skill of adaptability often gives them the tools to move beyond suicide as the only option," he added.

Dr Barry made his comments at the Console World Suicide Prevention Day Conference in Dublin to mark World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10). Console is a national suicide prevention charity.

Also speaking at the event, Console CEO, Paul Kelly, reiterated Dr Barry's comments and said that parents have to teach their children to expect some disappointment in their lives.

"We have to teach our children that not everything will go right in their lives, that they will suffer many disappointments and that some will upset them greatly. Quite simply, in the rush to achieve, be it through points, places or salaries, we are producing a generation of young people for whom it is all or nothing. We need to teach our young people that nothing is a matter of life and death," he commented.

The conference was held in Dublin's Aviva Stadium.

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