The overall suicide rate is falling but it is rising in women over 35 years of age and in the 55-64 year age group. Stock photo: PA

The overall suicide rate is falling but it is rising in women over 35 years of age and in the 55-64 year age group.

HSE chief Tony O'Brien told the Oireachtas health committee yesterday that provisional data for 2016 showed a drop of 11.5pc in the rate of suicide.

"In addition, the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland also confirms a stabilisation and slight reduction in the rates of self-harm presentation to A&E departments," said Mr O'Brien.

He said a recent report suggested Ireland has the fourth highest teen suicide rate in the EU/OECD region but it is "important to note that this data related to 2010".

In May 2017, Eurostat updated its OECD suicide rate comparisons based on 2014 data which shows that in Ireland, the suicide rates among young males and females aged 15-19 have decreased.

Ireland is now 19th across the countries studied with an average rate of 4.64 per 100,000, which is now slightly lower than the European average of 4.67.

The committee was told, however, there are ongoing problems trying to recruit psychiatrists for child mental health teams.

Some of these teams are just 60pc staffed. Services for children in Cork are particularly badly hit. This is impacting waiting times for children, one in three of whom are not seen in 12 weeks.

Irish Independent