Up to 400,000 people in Ireland are currently experiencing depression according to support group Aware, which has today launched its annual depression awareness week. The campaign is aimed at encouraging those affected to come forward and seek help. Depression Annual Awareness Week will see widespread advertising of the support services available from groups like Aware.
More people die by suicide than on the roads every year, with one in ten people likely to suffer from depression at some point in their life.
Suicide rates are highest in the November to January period which is why the awareness week has been moved from September to January.
Despite the high number of people affected, Aware's Chief Executive, Geraldine Clare, says that successive governments have failed to address effectively the problem of depression and suicide. With almost 500 people dying by suicide every year, support groups say they face an uphill struggle.
http://www.samaritans.org/talk/branches/ireland.shtm
http://www.aware.ie/