Best to be upfront about mental-health risks

Sally O’Reilly’s letter, “Cuddihy deaths caused by a lot more than untreated depression” (Letters, September 3, Irish Examiner) is somewhat reactionary.

Ms O’Reilly refers to Maureen Cuddihy’s comments, urging people with mental health problems to get professional help, as “alarmist.” In my view, Maureen Cuddihy’s advice “don’t wait, speak now and get help before you do something that will cause such great pain to your family” is a simple plea and is not “stigmatising”. Only a minority of people with mental health difficulties harm themselves or others, but it does happen and these people need help.

Recent cases in Ireland are testament to this. Ignoring this problem is not helpful to either the individual or society.