Stigma of suicide worsened at inquest

MORE than one person dies by suicide every day in this country.

That means that, every day, some family faces the indescribable pain and anguish that such a death imposes on parents, siblings, and friends.

After the funeral is over, life moves on for some. For those most closely involved, the silence falls and the family is left to pick up the pieces. Many families are surprised when, after six weeks or more, a member of the Garda Siochána call to the family home to inform them of the date of the inquest of their family member. This inquest usually takes place in the local courthouse or sometimes, in a hotel room, neither of which are conducive to comfort and privacy. It is the start of yet another painful and intrusive journey into their grief and pain.