Fine Gael Limerick TD and President of the Irish Association of Sucidology, Dan Neville, has said that the link between alcohol abuse, suicide and self-harm must not be ignored. Deputy Neville made his comments this evening (Thursday) at a seminar on a seminar on mental health and suicide in Crumlin, Dublin.
“While the connection between alcohol abuse, suicide and self-harm is internationally recognised, it is not highlighted often enough. Alcohol dependence often leads to social decline, loss of self-esteem and isolation, all of which can contribute to suicidal feelings. This is coupled with the fact that intoxication makes people more impulsive, weakening normal restraints against dangerous behaviour . This is very important in the context of suicide.
“Little information is available on the role of alcohol in the suicides of non-alcoholics, but some studies suggest that some of these people drink before their deaths, perhaps to bolster their courage. It is well established that people who become dependent on alcohol have a high mortality rate through suicide. We also know that if a person who is mildly depressed, particularly a young person, is involved in heavy binge drinking, a period of severe depression can follow. Long after the effects of the alcohol have worn off, depression remains. Some research indicates that this could last for more than 12 hours after a binge drinking session.
Source: Sarah Meade, finegael.ie, 28/02/13
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