Confronting suicide - Taboo tag costs lives

IRISH suicide rates have been at a dreadfully high level for a number of years, yet, because it is such a heartbreaking event surrounded by so much pain and unjustified guilt, we push it to the edge of our consciousness.

That is as long as we have the luxury of doing so.

Today we report that 10 times more is spent on road safety than suicide prevention even though 100 more people take their lives each year than die on our roads.

The statistics are well rehearsed and disquieting but this will not change until we accept that society has a role to play in the mental wellbeing of each and every citizen. It is time we shook off the taboo status suicide hides behind. By doing so we might be able to confront this contemporary scourge in a better way.