Substantial levels of social isolation have been identified with one third of people reporting that they do not attend any social or leisure events, according to a new survey on mental health.
One in five people only sees friends or relatives once a month or less and one in seven says they would have difficulty getting practical help from a neighbour.
Suicide is now regarded as the single most significant mental health-related problem in Ireland, followed by alcohol and depression, according to the new HSE survey.
Women and the under-35s see suicide as more of a problem compared with men, who regard alcoholism and drug dependence as the biggest mental health-related issues.
The preliminary findings of the Mental Health Attitudes and Awareness in Ireland survey commissioned by the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) and the Health Service Executive were presented yesterday in Dublin.
The findings of the research, which was undertaken to measure commonly held attitudes and perceptions of mental health in Ireland, will be used by the suicide prevention office to develop a public mental health awareness programme as recommended in the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention.
More than eight in 10 adults regard their quality of life overall as either very good or good, according to the survey, but this falls to 64 per cent among those who have personal experience of mental health problems.
The research reveals that there is still a substantial stigma attached to mental health problems in Ireland, with 52 per cent of those surveyed saying that people with mental health problems should not be allowed to do important jobs, such as being a doctor or a nurse.
Head of the National Suicide Prevention Office Geoff Day said such levels of stigma were unwarranted and contributed to the problem of mental health in Ireland.
"It is clear from the preliminary findings that significant levels of stigma still persist around mental health," he said. "There is a huge need to educate the people of Ireland about mental health and this research will make a strong contribution towards our overall campaign in achieving this increased understanding.
"The reality is that many of us can and do experience mental health problems.
"These problems can range from feelings of hopelessness, often in response to a negative life event, to the experience of enduring mental illness," Mr Day continued.
"Either way, positive change can only come from addressing mental health in an honest and open way as an everyday issue," he said.
