A new study has looked at how the 2008 global economic crisis has affected suicide trends in 54 countries. It compared the actual number of suicides in 2009 with the number that would be expected, based on the trends between 2000 and 2007, before the crisis.

It then calculated the ‘excess’ number of suicides in 2009, which the study attributes to the recession.

It found Ireland had an excess of 82 male and 15 female suicides in 2009.

According to the National Office For Suicide Prevention, there were 552 deaths by suicide in Ireland in 2009.

Research assistant professor Shu-Sen Chang, senior research leader David Stuckler, professor Paul Yip and professor David Gunnell carried out the research.

Full study here.