More people have died by suicide in Northern Ireland than those who died as a result of The Troubles. In 2018 it was revealed that since the peace deal in 1998 there have been 4,500 registered suicides in Northern Ireland, compared to the 3,525 lives lost during the conflict. In 2018 there were 308 deaths by suicide in Northern Ireland, 228 of them were men. In 2017 the rate of suicide in Northern Ireland stood at 18.5 per 100,000 people. This rate is double that recorded in England (9.2 per 100,000 people) in the same year.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride said, "There is no bigger public health challenge" at the launch of Protect Life 2 suicide prevention strategy by the Department of Health in late 2019. At that launch it was estimated that 5 people a week die by suicide in Northern Ireland.

Men in their late teens to mid-50s are the most at-risk group in society and the risks increase further for men who are single, unemployed, and living in socio-economic disadvantage.

It is well known and documented that men struggle to speak about their mental health; there has been an increase in campaigns focusing on male mental health such as Movember. Participants grow moustaches for the month of November to raise awareness of issues of health issues affecting men, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, male suicide, and mental health.

This high suicide rate may also be linked to prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Northern Ireland as a result of the conflict. In 2019, the Irish Times estimated that 39 percent of the population had witnessed an experience or traumatic event linked directly to the conflict which could potentially contribute to a diagnosis of PTSD.

As it stands Northern Ireland currently has the highest rate recorded of mental illness within the U.K. The most common mental illnesses include depression, anxiety, and addiction. However, there are a range of mental illnesses and as studies have continuously found – mental illness does not discriminate. The Mental Health Foundation estimates that 1 in 5 adults in Northern Ireland will suffer in their lifetime.

“More than 20 per cent of young people are suffering “significant mental health problems” by the time they reach 18.” This was found by Dr Jennifer Betts and Dr Janice Thompson who compiled a research paper for the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2017.

It is estimated in 2017 that around 45,000 children and young people in Northern Ireland have a mental health problem. They are primarily treated by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS). CAHMS hit the headlines in June 2019 when it was revealed that the government target for waiting no longer than 9 weeks for access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health services had not been met and that in March 2019, 487 young people were on the waiting list and had not been seen within the 9 week period.

Despite all of these horrifying statistics Northern Ireland is currently the only place in the UK without a dedicated mental health strategy. Under the proposed New Decade, New Approach deal which was published last Thursday (9 January) there is a commitment by the executive to publish a Mental Health Action Plan within 2 months of the re-commencement of government and a full mental health strategy by December 2020.

The lack of long- term plan until now is something that we as a society should hang our heads in shame over. The figures show that mental health and supporting those with mental illness needs to be our priority as a society, if mental health is the biggest crisis in public health at the moment it is time it was treated like that. The 1 in 5 could easily be within our family, our friends and our colleagues .

Mental health and the need for better mental health provisions will always be a topical subject in our society as the numbers continue to rise. Perhaps one of the greatest challenges we face is the stigma of mental illness. The stigma and fear of admitting to needing help is a considerable difficulty that many will face when seeking help and support. Sometimes, beginning the conversation can be the hardest part.

Conversations can be difficult and they can be scary. However, they have the power to save a life or help a person in need get on the right path as they make the decision to ask for help – whether it be from medical services, charities or community organisations. There is nothing ‘weak’ about asking a friend for help, more often than not it can be the most courageous act in the world.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised please contact The Samaritans on 116 132 or email jo@samaritans.org