Suicide calls becoming 'a fact of life'
Desperate homeowners at wit's end
Sunday November 02 2008
HOMEOWNERS who express suicidal feelings because they are so distressed at being unable to meet their debts have become a "fact of life" for staff at Ireland's leading money advice bureau.
As the number of house repossessions more than doubled in the first six months of this year, the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) says it has to deal with customers who want to take their own life under the pressure of mounting bills.
As a spokesperson for MABS explained, "We have had an increase of over 30 per cent in clients on last year. They are having difficulty with every type of debt, from car loans to mortgages.
"People talk in meetings about having suicidal thoughts and feelings, and unfortunately, it's a fact of life for our money advisors.
"Sometimes, we would advise people to seek the help of their GP and to go and get help before even touching any of their financial difficulties."
The organisation -- which has received 10,000 calls from people seeking money advice in the past 12 months alone -- described how clients often break down during meetings under the pressure of financial strain. "People who come in to us would often be quite distressed and very agitated and very depressed. One of the most traumatic things a person can go through is being unable to make their mortgage repayments.
"The fear of losing one's home or the loss of a job after you have heavily borrowed is very distressing. To see your whole world fall apart around you, it's very disconcerting."
Suzanne Costello, director of Samaritans Ireland, says many calls to the helpline are from people who are feeling uncertain about their future over the next six to 12 months.
"Financial stress has always been a key factor in people experiencing suicidal thoughts and we are anticipating an increase in the volume of these types of calls. It was very prevalent in the Eighties and is likely to become so again. Many people who are now in debt are not used to this scenario or this level of stress, and we would hope banks would be humane in their approach to people who are finding it difficult to meet their debts."
Meanwhile, with 126 possession orders issued by the High Court in the first half of 2008 -- compared to 59 similar orders in the first six months of 2007 -- reports are circulating that the number of houses being repossessed is actually much higher.
Both MABS and a source within the Department of Social Welfare have confirmed that they have heard reports of incidents where homeowners are being enabled by banks to hand over the deeds of their house and rent it back from the bank at a lower price.
To contact the Samaritans helpline, call 1850 60 90 90.
- NIAMH HORAN
