General Practitioners urge people concerned about suicide to reach out for help
Increased levels of anxiety recorded due to COVID-19 pandemic
The Irish College of General Practitioners, the professional education & training body for GPs in Ireland, has urged the public to reach out for help if they are suffering from mental health difficulties or have suicidal thoughts.
The Director of Mental Health Programmes with the ICGP, Dr Brian Osborne said: “On this World Suicide Prevention Day 2020, we are all living through the COVID-19 pandemic in our lives. Studies have indicated that levels of depression and anxiety have increased in the general population since the pandemic began. Many people are feeling more anxious but we know that speaking to someone, including family and friends, and seeking help does alleviate anxiety levels.”
He added: “We as General Practitioners are urging people who are having difficulties with their mental health or suicidal thoughts to talk to their GP. In addition to your GP there are telephone helplines, online supports and local organisations that may be able to help.”
Many GPs experience a suicide in their practice. The ICGP has a range of resources available for members to help support them.
Dr Andrée Rochfort, Director of Quality Improvement & Doctors’ Health with the ICGP, said: “The ICGP supports colleagues in suicide prevention and we work closely with the National Office for Suicide Prevention.
A suicide in a practice can have a huge professional and personal impact on a GP. Everyone needs to support the prevention of suicide in Ireland.”
For more information on World Suicide Prevention Day go to https://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/wspd/en/
ENDS
TWITTER hashtag #WSPD2020
ISSUED BY: Aileen O’Meara, Communications Consultant, Irish College of General Practitioners.
Email: media@icgp.ie Tel. 01 2542984 / 087 2239830