The impact of the recent recession on suicide and self-harm rates has been highlighted in a new Irish study.

Researchers at University College Cork (UCC) and the National Suicide Research Foundation looked at the impact of the recession and austerity measures on the rates of suicide and self-harm in Ireland between 2008 and 2012.

They found that the rate of suicide among males in Ireland was 57% higher by the end of 2012 than it would have been if the pre-recession trend had continued.

They also found a big jump in cases of self-harm during this period - a 31% increase in men and a 22% increase in women.

The researchers noted that while the rate of suicide tends to increase mostly in men during recessions, rates of self-harm appear to increase in both men and women. Between 2008 and 2012, 5,029 more males and 3,833 more females presented to hospitals as a result of self-harm.

The study noted a number of factors related to the economic downturn which may have contributed to these suicide and self-harm figures, including personal debt, cuts to welfare and falling house prices.

According to lead researcher, Dr Paul Corcoran of UCC, these findings provide ‘a stark reminder of the tragic human costs of policy failure in economic management by governments and other institutions at national and international level'.

"They highlight the need for reliable and well-standardised data on suicide, self-harm and determinants of suicidal behaviour, to guide policy on how best to mitigate the effects of economic crises on mental health," he said.

These findings are published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.