The suicide rate in the Traveller community is six times higher than the general population, according to the All-Ireland Traveller Health Study. This increases to seven times higher when focused on Traveller men, and 11% of Traveller deaths are accountable to suicide. Prejudice, poverty and a lack of accessible services have proven to be a tragic combination for one of the most disadvantaged groups in the UK and Ireland.
During the Irish presidential election in October, the climate of fear for Travellers was reinforced by the highly publicised comments of candidate Peter Casey. In the face of discrimination and multiple social barriers, poor mental health has reached a crisis point within the community — a 2017 survey found that 82% of the Travellers surveyed had been personally affected by suicide.
Despite the prevalence of poor mental health, both a lack of cultural competency in the health service and a powerful stigma within the Traveller communities themselves prevent people from seeking help.
Link: https://theovertake.com/~beta/suicide-in-the-traveller-community/
