Experiences of Suicide in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities

Fellow VCSE Health & Wellbeing Alliance members, Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) recently released a research summary offering insights into the experiences of death-by-suicide in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities using responses from community members who had experienced the death of a friend or loved-one.

The report highlights contributing risk factors behind the high suicide prevalence within Gypsy and Traveller communities, and offers recommendations on how support around suicide prevention can be improved.

Gypsy and Traveller people are at high risk of suicide compared to the general population – an All Ireland study found that suicide prevalence is six times higher for Irish Traveller women, and seven times higher for Irish Traveller men.

Some of the contributing factors include:

• Economic and financial exclusion, including issues around unemployment, accommodation and financial difficulty;
• Lack of support from mental health and other public health services;
• Stigma around mental health and suicide;
• Criminalisation and loss of traditional ways of life.

The resource is designed to support professionals who provide mental health and care services to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and offers intimate insight into experiences and wider impacts of death-by-suicide, as well as important recommendations on how change can be implemented.

You can access the report here.