Depression and suicide are big problems in North Tipperary says local Councillor

A LOCAL councillor told a recent meeting that depression and suicide are big problems in North Tipperary, two issues which, he said, seem to have become worse in the last couple of years.
“I have no hard facts or figures to back this up,” Cllr Michael O'Meara told the December meeting of Nenagh Municipal District, “but anecdotally these problems really seem to be coming up more and more. I see it as a major issue.
“We councillors are at the coalface, meeting and chatting with a lot of members of the public every day, and what I am noticing more and more is that middle-aged and elderly men, in particular, are raising these topics during our conversations. I could be chatting to them about various regular, practical problems such as the condition of a road or footpath, but they veer the conversation into the subject of depression or suicide. They could start telling me about various problems in their life, perhaps a physical health problem, or a family problem.”
Cllr O'Meara said it was obvious to every councillor that a significant number of middle-aged and elderly men are suffering from mental health issues. Rural isolation and loneliness has a part to play in this, he said.
“There are some middle-aged and elderly men who are living in isolated rural locations and they might speak to very few people every week, perhaps just a few hellos to the postman or to someone walking by. Perhaps they are widowers and they have no one to really connect to.”
He added that he sees the problem presenting itself more often in the farming community. “By its nature farming can be a lonely occupation. The work is hard, the hours are long, and the farmers are getting very little if any social outlet. I've also noticed that since Covid some people have been slow to get back out into their communities. Social outlets are so important.”
The councillor said he knew a number of elderly men who committed suicide in recent months.
“There are services out there to help these people,” he commented, “but they either don't know about them or don't connect with them. Women are better at accessing these services. I would appeal to anyone who is feeling down to at least see their Doctor. If you are suffering from depression it is likely that your GP will know the signs and will know what to do.”
Cllr O'Meara praised the team of people in Tipperary County Council who work hard to provide a range of social outlets for members of the community.
“The Local Community Development Committee in the Council do a lot of work promoting sport for women and promoting integration in communities.”
He praised everyone who organised Tipperary Mental Health Week which took place from October 7th-14th. During the week numerous events and programmes took place around the County. Tipperary Mental Health Week committee is a group of interagency workers and volunteers. Co-Ordinators of the group are Áine Roche, Healthy Tipperary, and Claire Flynn, Mental Health Ireland.
Eileen Cullinane and Geraldine Manning of the LCDC told the Nenagh MD meeting that Healthy Tipperary in partnership with Connecting for Life, Mental Health Ireland, Tipperary GAA, and Tipperary County Council will print and supply 73 boards to each of the County’s GAA clubs and facilities. This initiative has already been rolled out in Wexford, Kilkenny, Limerick, Laois, Cavan and Meath, and was originally developed by Connecting for Life and Mental Health Ireland. It aims to highlight the services available to people and create suicide awareness and mental health awareness within the community. These boards provide vital information to anyone who may need it. Healthy Tipperary in partnership with Tipperary GAA secured the funding through the Community Support Fund.
These boards will be placed in every club in the County by the end of January 2024 and there will be an official launch with Minister Mary Butler in attendance.
Cllr O'Meara said the boards are a fantastic idea, as is locating them in GAA clubs where men are more likely to see them. “Hopefully they will mean that less men will fall through the cracks,” he said.