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Walsh, Dermot
Preferred name
Walsh, Dermot
Official Name
Walsh, Dermot
Research Output
Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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Publication
Hospitalized psychiatric morbidity in Ireland : a suggested approach
1967-06, Walsh, Dermot, Walsh, Brendan M.
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Publication
Validity of indices of alcoholism : a comment from Irish experience
1973, Walsh, Brendan M., Walsh, Dermot
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Some influences on the intercounty variation in Irish psychiatric hospitalization rates
1968, Walsh, Dermot, Walsh, Brendan M.
An examination of the effect of sex and age structure on psychiatric hospitalization rate and its regional variations in Ireland has been carried out. Statistical testing, by regression, of the influence of selected socioeconomic variables on hospitalization rate produced some interesting results. Of most interest was the finding that elderly populations tended to increase hospitalization rate at all age groups.
It is hoped to carry this work further using more refined data.
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Mental illness in the Republic of Ireland : first admissions
1970, Walsh, Brendan M., Walsh, Dermot
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Suicide in Ireland : the influence of alcohol and unemployment
2010-10, Walsh, Brendan M., Walsh, Dermot
In this paper we model the behaviour of the Irish suicide rate over the period 1968‐2009 using
the unemployment rate and the level of alcohol consumption as explanatory variables. It is
found that these variables have significant positive effects on suicide mortality in several
demographic groups. Alcohol consumption is a significant influence on the male suicide rate up
to age 64. Its influence on the female suicide rate is not as well‐established, although there is
evidence that it is important in the 15‐24 and 25‐34 age groups. The unemployment rate is also
a significant influence on the male suicide rate in the younger age groups. The behaviour of
suicide rates among males aged 55 and over and females aged 25 and over is largely
unaccounted for by our model. These broad conclusions hold when account is taken of a
structural break in the 1980s, with the response to unemployment being greater in the earlier
period and that to alcohol greater in the later period. The findings suggest that higher alcohol
consumption played a major role in the increase in suicide mortality among young Irish males
between the late 1960s and the end of the century. In the early twenty first century a
combination of falling alcohol consumption and low unemployment led to a marked reduction
in suicide rates, although there is some evidence that the suicide rate is being increasingly
under‐reported in recent years. The recent rise in the suicide rate may be attributed to the
sharp increase in unemployment, especially among males, but it has been moderated by the
continuing fall in alcohol consumption. Some policy implications of the findings are discussed.
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Publication
The male/female differential in life expectancy in Ireland : a note
1978, Walsh, Brendan M., Walsh, Dermot
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Suicide in Dublin : II. the influence of some social and medical factors on coroners' verdicts
1975, Walsh, Brendan M., Walsh, Dermot, Whelan, B. J.
This paper presents an analysis of the factors which influence coroners in their decision to classify some deaths as suicides and others as accidental or 'open'. The most important influence on coroners' behaviour was seen to be the manner by which the person died. Those who died by cutting, hanging, drugs or gas were significantly more likely to receive a suicide verdict than those whose deaths were due to drowning, jumping, shooting or poisoning. If the deceased left any intimation of a suicidal intent, this increased the likelihood that a suicide verdict would be returned. Finally, persons aged under 40 were significantly more likely to be returned as suicides than older victims, especially those aged over 70. All of these results show that coroners operate by observing the law as it defines suicide, that is, by looking for evidence of intent of self-inflicted death. Our findings concerning the factors associated with the suicide verdict help to clarify the meaning of the official data on suicides in Ireland, and illuminate the reasons why, using clinical rather than legal criteria, a much higher rate is obtained.