Study Suggests Suicide ‘More Likely’ On Border

Young people living near the border are more likely to take their own lives than those elsewhere on the island of Ireland, a new study suggests.

The health survey also indicated that people in border regions are more likely to be killed in a road accident.

The research was carried out by the cross-border health service group Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT).

One fifth of the people who live on the island of Ireland are regarded as living in a border region.

CAWT includes representatives from the Health Service Executive in the Republic, and the Western and Southern Health and Social Services Boards in Northern Ireland.

According to the report, the suicide rate for people under 20 has been higher in the border area than the rest of the island for every year between 1997 and the most recent figures in 2005.

The report also found that deaths from road traffic accidents are 62% higher for women and 51% for men in border regions than in the rest of the island.

The director general of CAWT, Colm Donaghy, said the report would be used to tackle inequalities in health provision.

“This includes making certain acute hospital services more accessible to local border populations and targeting vulnerable population groups though community engagement to deliver social inclusion initiatives.

“We also have a range of projects coming on stream which aim to tackle some of the important health issues of our times including, for example, alcohol abuse, obesity and diabetes,” he said.