IRELAND is facing an epidemic of suicide, but one that is affecting certain counties more than others, and primarily men.

Suicide rates in certain counties can be almost seven times higher than in others, while the likelihood of a man taking his own life is four times more than that of a woman.

A breakdown of figures for suicide reveals that the county with the single-worst record is Cork, where 93 people took their own lives in 2009. The rate of suicide in the county stood at 0.193 per 1,000 of population last year.

By comparison, the figure in counties like Kilkenny and Longford was much lower, at just 0.034 and 0.029 respectively.

The national average was 0.124, meaning that a county like Cork or Tipperary (with its rate of 0.187) was 50% above the norm.

Traditionally, it is assumed that suicide rates are higher in urban areas where the sense of isolation can be more pronounced.

However, the figures appear to show that is simply not the case as, apart from Cork, counties with major urban centres were in or around the norm.

In Dublin for instance, with its population of some 1.2 million, the total number of suicides was 111, leaving a rate of 0.093 deaths per 1,000.

Galway's 29 fatalities – or 0.125 rate of suicide – was broadly similar to the national norm.

In Limerick, the figure was above average, at a rate of 0.136 – or 25 in total – deaths.

Provisional figures re­leased last week show that a total of 527 people took their own lives in 2009, a one-quarter increase on the previous year.

Those figures reversed a downward trend which had seen the number of suicides drop by 11% in the period between 2005 and 2008.

However, a detailed analysis of the figures by the Sunday Tribune does show the problem is much more serious in certain areas.

The five counties with the worst record when it came to suicide were Cork, Tipperary, Cavan, Wexford and Carlow, statistics for 2009 showed.

The five counties where the problem appeared to be least severe were Longford, Kilkenny, Monaghan, Laois and Dublin – all but one of them in Leinster.

The vast difference in suicide rates between the sexes was apparent in a total of 422 men taking their own lives against 105 women.

Yet in certain counties, that trend was reversed with, for example, Carlow reporting five deaths among women and three among men.

By and large, however, the county figures were remarkably consistent with the national average, with the male-female breakdown in Dublin running at 86 to 25 and in Cork at 79 to 14.

In response to the new figures, the government last week promised an additional €1m to fund a range of suicide-prevention measures.

The Health Service Executive said the figures were reflective of an international trend whereby the number of people taking their own lives increases during an economic recession.

Carlow Male (M) 3 Female (F) 5 Total (T) 8 Rate per 1,000 population (R) .159
Cavan (M) 9 (F) 2 (T) 11 (R) .172
Clare (M) 13 (F) 3 (T) 16 (R) .144
Cork (M) 79 (F) 14 (T) 93 (R) .193
Donegal (M) 15 (F) 5 (T) 20 (R) .135
Dublin (M) 86 (F) 25 (T) 111 (R) .093
Galway (M) 26 (F) 3 (T) 29 (R) .125
Kerry (M) 17 (F) 1 (T) 18 (R) .129
Kildare (M) 14 (F) 4 (T) 18 (R) .097
Kilkenny (M) 1 (F) 2 (T) 3 (R) .034
Laois (M) 2 (F) 2 (T) 4 (R) .059
Leitrim (M) 3 (F) 0 (T) 3 (R) .103
Limerick (M) 21 (F) 4 (T) 25 (R) .136
Longford (M) 1 (F) 0 (T) 1 (R) .029
Louth (M) 14 (F) 3 (T) 17 (R) .153
Mayo (M) 9 (F) 4 (T) 13 (R) .105
Meath (M) 17 (F) 7 (T) 24 (R) .147
Monaghan (M) 2 (F) 1 (T) 3 (R) .054
Offaly (M) 9 (F) 2 (T) 11 (R) .155
Roscommon (M) 3 (F) 2 (T) 5 (R) .085
Sligo (M) 5 (F) 0 (T) 5 (R) .082
Tipperary (M) 25 (F) 3 (T) 28 (R) .187
Waterford (M) 11 (F) 3 (T) 14 (R) .129
Westmeath (M) 8 (F) 3 (T) 11 (R) .139
Wexford (M) 17 (F) 5 (T) 22 (R) .167
Wicklow (M) 12 (F) 2 (T) 14 (R) .111

Total (M) 422 (F) 105 (T) 527 (R) .124

* The Samaritans provides 24-hour emotional support to anyone experiencing distress, despair or suicidal thought. Established in Ireland in 1962, there are now 20 Samaritans branches across the island. Their helpline is 1850-60-90-90 or jo@ samaritans.org