Charity Aware wants to highlight mental health issues not an automatic life sentence

Depression and suicide should not be automatically linked, says Aware, that educates and empowers people to look after their mental health.

Aware clinical director Dr Claire Hayes said depression and bipolar disorder were really challenging and could at times be quite harrowing conditions to deal with.

“Our concern is that often society’s reaction to and focus on suicide can perpetuate the idea that it is in some way a valid option or an inevitable outcome,” said Dr Hayes.