The recession puts pressure on suicide services: The National Office for Suicide Prevention states that the economic downturn has led to a big increase in demand for services offered by voluntary counselling groups. Agencies working in the area of mental health and suicide prevention express concern and as a result a number of initiatives to offer advice, assistance and support to people affected by the downturn have been put in place.

Come to terms with the recession with Dr. Harry Barry's Flagging the Therapy - Pathways Out of Depression and Anxiety or the new format edition of Flagging the Problem - A New Approach to Mental Health. Using colour coded flags, Dr. Barry's best-selling books help you identify and deal with mental health problems, and explain the role our minds and brains play in the manifestation of depression and anxiety.

354,400 fewer tourists visited Ireland between January and March this year. CSO figures suggest that in March there were 100,000 fewer trips.

Summer is officially here and the Irish weather couldn't be better! Why not visit Ireland and use John Dunne's Lakeshore Loops - Exploring Irelands Lakes. John Dunne's wonderful guide is the perfect companion to those seeking solitude cycling by the Shannon, a weekend walk in Westmeath, or a day trip diving into the deep water of Lough Derg. Or examine the creatures, myths and lore that exist in the beautiful Irish freshwater lakes with Irish Lake Marvels - Mysteries, Legends and Lore.

Get familiar with the increasingly well-known traditional food cultures of the Irish counties by traveling with Around Ireland with a Pan: Food, Tales and Recipes. Éamonn Ó Catháin looks at how tastes - and standards - in food have changed over the years and gives his impressions of some of the outstanding restaurants, food markets and food shops to be found on this island.

.

RTÉ reports that employment levels are falling: Ireland's unemployment rate is now 3.1% higher than the EU average, with a further 100,000 jobs being lost in the last twelve months. Unemployment now stands at 12%. The CSO figures noted a 7.5% annual decrease in the number of men in employment, while the number of women fell by 3.1%.

A vital book to all those affected by the downturn is Surviving the Axe: The Irish Guide to Handling Redundancy by Lisa O'Callaghan.

Surviving the Axe guides the reader into how to get back into the job market; use contacts; work from home effectively; get agencies on side; create a high-impact CV specifically for those with a mixed bag of experience and, of course, handle those difficult questions at an interview.

Providing invaluable advice, the book describes the unique world of unemployment and offers practical ideas on managing limited finances, maintaining well-being and self-confidence, as well as making free time matter.