Traveler suicide rate six times higher than rest of Irish society

The suicide rate within the Traveler community is six times higher than that of the wider society in Ireland.

The statistic has been released to mark the launch of a network lobbying for improved mental health services for Travelers.

The National Traveler Mental Health Network which will be launched later today at NUI Galway also aims to share information on best practice for addressing mental health within the community.

Speaking ahead of this afternoon's launch, Thomas McCann, founding member of the Network, says there is a gap in mental health services for Travelers.

"Services were traditionally set up for the settled community and Travelers don't fit into that frame sometimes in terms of being able to access services, or even if services are culturally appropriate," he said.

"In the provision for change, which came out 11 years ago, one of the key recommendations is that mental health services need to be culturally inclusive."