by Louise Doyle
MORE than 35 per cent of people living in a defective concrete home have experienced suicidal thoughts, according to findings from groundbreaking research.
The study, which surveyed 393 adults living in defective concrete homes across Ireland, reveals alarming mental health consequences for individuals affected by the crisis.
It was conducted by PhD researcher Oisin Keenan under the supervision of Dr Karen Kirby, alongside experts from the Schools of Psychology, Geography and Environmental Sciences, and the Ulster University Business School.
The findings highlight a severely high prevalence of mental health conditions among people affected by Ireland’s defective concrete crisis, with rates of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, complex post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation comparable to those seen in disaster-stricken and displaced populations.
Key findings include 35.5 per cent of participants (more than a third) of those surveyed reported suicidal ideation/thoughts, which emerged after their properties were suspected to be affected by defective concrete.
Some 30.4 per cent of participants, which is nearly three times higher than the Irish general population (11.5 per cent), reported severe depression.
Severe anxiety was reported by 26.2 per cent of participants. This figure is almost four times higher than the Irish general population (7.1 per cent).
Some 15.5 per cent of participants, which is twice as high as the Irish general population (8.8 per cent), reported complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
The findings also reveal 4.9 per cent of participants, which is twice as high as the general population (2.4 per cent) reported post-traumatic stress disorder.
The study found that mental health outcomes among affected individuals are similar, and in some cases even worse, than those reported following natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, or among refugee populations.
Safety fears were significant predictors of severe depression, complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal ideation, while ‘displacement and relocation’ predicted severe anxiety.
PhD researcher, Oisin Keenan, described the study as “significant”, adding that it provides “the first clear and robust scientific evidence from a representative sample that shows the profound level of distress that families are living with”.
It is clear that more needs to be done by the Irish government to provide mental health support and ensure the defective concrete grant scheme will allow families to free themselves from the primary causes of their distress.
“Given the severity of the crisis, we, as researchers, are calling for immediate, targeted mental health interventions for affected individuals, including families, elderly residents, and vulnerable populations.”
Chief Investigator, Chair of Supervisors and Senior Lecturer from the School of Psychology, Dr Karen Kirby, said the sheer scale of the figures is “deeply concerning”. She said living in defective homes has created chronic fear and uncertainty, which significantly increases mental health risks, particularly for those displaced or financially trapped.
She said their “chronic toxic stress is exacerbated by barriers moving forward on the government grant scheme”.
“This helps explain the notable higher prevalence of mental health issues, including the higher rates of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (a more chronic form of distress), not to mention feelings of hopelessness, as people feel defeated and trapped in an unending, distressing situation, and explains the highly recorded prevalence of suicidal thoughts in this sample of people.
“The findings also underscore the urgent need for immediate mental health support. Without intervention, many individuals will continue to experience worsening mental health, potentially leading to tragic outcomes.
“The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the government’s grant scheme and the delays in financial assistance only exacerbate distress. It is imperative that these systems operate efficiently to prevent further psychological harm.”
