THE NUMBER OF people who took their own lives hit the highest level since 2001 in 2011.

Figures compiled from coroners’ reports by the Central Statistics Office show that 83% of those suicides were by men.

In total. 458 men and 96 women died by suicide in 2011. Strikingly, the highest number of suicides came from men aged 45-64.

For women, ages 25-44 saw the highest proportion.

The report shows that men are five times more likely to die by suicide.

It adds that Ireland’s rate of suicide is around the European average, while Greece and Cyprus having the lowest rates.

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Lithuania, Hungary and Latvia have the highest reported rates.