Suicide in Dublin

Abstract

A survey of suicide in Dublin covering the years 1954 to 1963 was carried out by examination of coroners’ records. A mean annual suicide rate of 4.5 per 100,000 population was established for the period investigated. The rate increased with age up to age 70 and declined from then on. At all ages the male rate exceeded the female. Rates were highest in the central city areas, which are regions of low social cohesion containing a high proportion of the elderly, the unattached, and the migrant living alone in single-room or hostel accommodation. Carbon-monoxide poisoning and drowning account for almost three-quarters of all deaths, and well over half of the suicides had been to a doctor within three months of their death. In addition, one-third had previously been in a psychiatric hospital. © 1966, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.