Sir, - I commend John Waters on his article (Opinion, March 2nd) highlighting the incidence of suicide in men. I believe that any public dialogue is good, as people contemplating suicide might not then feel so isolated. Suicide is the most private and intimate of acts. Suicide is also a taboo subject. This means the person intending suicide is one of the most marginalised people in society.
I suggest that public denial of suicide, beyond mere statistics, leads to further alienation, leaving one with a total sense of rejection.
Why is all mention of life's ultimate achievement, death, a taboo subject outside religious circles? Why are secluded psychiatry rooms the only acceptable place of discourse about this social ill on the increase? Is death an embarrassment?
Suicide needs to be brought into public and media discourse so that the stigma is taken away. This may allow people contemplating suicide to divulge their misgivings. Suicide statistics can reveal little more than numbers, but discourse could focus on what can be done to generate a need to live. - Yours, etc.,
Colin L. Carroll, Cork.