An Examination of Suicide through a Recession

By

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To begin, I wish to offer this piece of work in memory of my late parents Paddy and

Eileen Grennan, without them I would not be here today. I believed they looked over me, supporting and influencing every word I wrote.

I want to acknowledge the contribution of my husband Philip. Thank you for all your support and encouragement.

To my children Marc, David and Julie who have been very patient with my efforts and experiences. Your belief in me made it all worthwhile. I love you all so much. Thank you for believing in my abilities when I doubted myself. My life would not be complete without you.

To my brother Les who has been my rock throughout my studies, to my sister Pam for all your prayers and Valerie for all your reassurance.

To my colleague Eileen White, we dragged each other through many years of study, kicking and screaming, laughing and crying, through good times and bad, not allowing either of us to give up at any stage. We were always there to pick the other one up when we needed a hand. You will always be my forever friend. Thank you.

To my lecturers and trainers in Dublin Business School for all their assistance through a most enjoyable journey, to a place I have been looking towards for many years. I would also like to thank my research supervisor Eamonn Boland who was there to support me on this project. His assistance and patience were invaluable to me.

To Peter Moroney who has given me opportunity to gain therapeutic experience working with those whose lives has been affected by suicide.

Finally I want to acknowledge all those who lost their lives prematurely to suicide. Many of whom I have known. If my research, studies and work will be of value to even one person further down the road, then this journey will have been worthwhile.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSII

ABSTRACTVII

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

1.1 Background1

1.2 Purpose2

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW4

2.1 What is Recession?4

2.2 Types of Recession4

2.2.1 Boom and Bust Recession.4

2.2.2 Balance Sheet Recession5

2.2.3 Supply Side Shock Recession6

2.2.4 Demand Side Shock Recession6

2.3 Cause of recession6

2.4 The Impact of Recession7

2.4. 1. Unemployment7

2.4. 2. Social Effects8

2.4. 3. Businesses8

2.4.4. Pricing in Economic Recession8

2.5 Recession in Ireland10

2.6 Recession and suicide13

2.7 Studies on recession and suicide15

2.8 Summary and transition16

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY17

3.1 Mixed Research17

3.2 Classification of research methods17

3.2.1 Multi-method studies18

3.2.2 Mixed method studies18

3.3 Steps in mixed methodology18

3.4 Strength and weakness of the mixed research19

3.4.1 Strengths19

3.4.2 Weaknesses19

3.5 Instrument for data collection20

3.6 Ethical Consideration20

3.7 Reliability and Validity20

CHAPTER 4: DICUSSION22

4.1 Brief history of suicide22

4.1.1 Judaism22

4.1.2 Roman22

4.13 Christianity22

4.1.4 St. Thomas Aquinas23

4.1.5 The Renaissance23

4.1.6 Protestants and Evangelicals23

4.1.7 Islam24

4.1.8 Hinduism24

4.1.9 Buddhists24

4.2 Other views of suicide24

4.3 Overall historic view of suicide25

4.3.1 Sociological view25

4.3.2 Cultural Differences25

4.3.3 Experiences abroad26

4.4 Legal position of Suicide in Ireland27

4.5 Suicide Statistics27

4.6 Recession in Ireland32

4.7 Present Position35

4.8 Facts relating to alcohol and suicide36

4.9 Drug usage36

4.10 Drug use in Ireland and Northern Ireland 2010/1137

4.11 Comparison between 2006/7 and 2010/1138

4.12 Northern Irish statistics link suicidal behavior with areas of disadvantage39

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION40

REFERENCES45

APPENDICES47

ABSTRACT

This research focussed on how recession leads ...