Death certificate plans: We must be open about suicide

Traditionally, suicide has been swept under the carpet in this country.

No doubt, that explains why a leading campaigner for greater public openness about suicide is trenchantly opposed to Tánaiste Joan Burton’s plan for new regulations to allow a “short form” of death certificate which would not say how a person had lost his or her life.

The expressed aim of both the minister and Government is to limit the suffering of families who have lost loved ones to suicide. Not surprisingly, people are divided on such a highly sensitive question. Arguably, however, it could be a backward and unacceptable step. With about 400 deaths from suicide each year, a death certificate which omits the cause of death could be seen as a political ploy to conceal this socially and economically embarrassing national statistic.