A comparison of suicide in two Irish counties

Objectives: To determine to what extent official suicide rates in counties Kildare and Mayo underestimate the rates as clinically determined, and to e xamine and compare the association between the sociodemographic characteris tics of the two Irish counties and trends in the suicide rates. Method: Populations for the two counties for the years 1988-1934 were calcu lated. Official suicide mortality data was obtained from the Central Statis tics Office. Following examination of the coroners' files for both counties the number of suicides was estimated using clinical criteria. Results: Neither county showed a significant change in suicide mortality ov er time from 1988-1994. Suicide was underestimated in official mortality da ta for each county. There were significant differences in the choice of met hod of suicide with an excess of drowning in Mayo and of shooting in Kildar e. Mayo suicides were more likely to be single and unemployed. Conclusions: Much local research is needed before implementing suicide prev ention programmes due to the many demographic differences and differences i n traditions and choice of method of suicide that exist between counties.