World Health Organisation suicide data 1960-1989 were examined by sex
and age to clarify under-reporting of Irish suicide. Three broad age g
roups (15-29, 30-54 and 55+ years) were combined with 3 year moving av
erages to reduce annual fluctuations. Trends were compared with three
neighbouring British nations whose major trends might be expected to b
roadly parallel Irish trends. Marked rises across all age/sex groups w
ere found for Ireland but generally not the other countries. The Irish
rises commenced uniformly around 1971/72 and were followed by a strik
ing partial levelling out around 1976/8. The uniformity of the Irish s
uicide rate rises strongly points to a common factor(s) operating acro
ss all age/sex groups most likely changes in reporting of suicide. Sig
nificant rises unrelated to reporting changes seem evident in males of
all ages but not females. Data from 1978 onward is likely to be more
valid than earlier data.