An average of 131 people between 18 and 30 take their own lives every year in Ireland, Scott Ahearn of the 3ts (turn the tide of suicide) charity has said.

Most of these are believed to be students and 60 per cent of them young men, the charity added.

“We looked at figures for the last 10 years compiled by the National Suicide Research Foundation and arrived at that figure,” he said.

The charity also found that the highest incidence of young suicides in Ireland is in Cork city and county.

Mental health co-ordinator with 3ts, Mr Ahearn was speaking to The Irish Times in the context of a suicide-prevention campaign aimed at students in the Republic’s 35 third level institutions.

The Send Silence Packing campaign has been unveiled by 3 ts, Pleasetalk.org and the Union of Students of Ireland with a display of 131 backpacks at Trinity College Dublin, representing the average number of college students who die by suicide in Ireland each year.

The campaign is intended to raise awareness about the impact of suicide, to connect students to mental health supports and to inspire action for suicide prevention. Events are planned for colleges around the State over coming weeks.

“Send Silence Packing is a clear opportunity to start a conversation about suicide prevention and for our participating advisers to speak with students as to how they might broach the topic of suicidal crisis” said Mr Ahern.

“Our messages are simple – one, be there for someone by simply listening; two, reach out when times are tough; three, find your on-campus and off-campus support services at Pleasetalk.org.”

“We’re delighted to join forces with Pleasetalk.org and the Union of Students

of Ireland for this initiative – we all share the same concerns regarding the numbers dying by suicide each year in Ireland and realise that by working together our messages will hopefully garner more attention and help those in suicidal crisis.”

Treasa Hanniffy of Pleasetalk.org said: “Talking to someone we trust is often the hardest step to take but the most crucial step.

“This initiative highlights the need for us to send silence packing and tackle the stigma attached to mental health and suicide which prevents young people from reaching out and seeking help.”

Aoife Ni Shuilleabhain, vice president for welfare at the Union of Students in Ireland, said: “We want students to know that it is ok not to feel ok but that help is always available and all you need to do is ask.”

“We also need those who hope to be our next leaders to recognise the importance of investment into mental health services and their fundamental importance to students in need.”

Helplines:

Samaritans - 116 123

Console - 1800 247 247

Aware - 1890 303 302

Pieta House - 01 601 0000

Teen-Line Ireland - 1800 833 634

Childline - 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)

turn2me.org - online counselling