Suicide awareness - Clinton may spark State campaign

By virtue of the support of such an eminent person as former US President Bill Clinton for the nascent National Suicide Prevention Service (NSPS), the Government might eventually attach the importance to it that this subject warrants.

Mr Clinton last night delivered a keynote address at a dinner to raise funds for the RehabCare initiative in establishing this national prevention programme.

Suicide in this country has more victims every year than road deaths, yet it is largely left to voluntary organisations to promote awareness of it.

The RehabCare service will seek to promote a better understanding of positive mental health, reduce stigma and positively change attitudes towards mental illness.

Ultimately, it hopes to prevent suicide, as do all other organisations in the field, and this is something which will warrant a major change in attitude by society and the Government.

Few families in this country have not felt the pain of suicide or attempted suicide, to the extent that it is inexplicable that more intensive and sustained education and information campaigns have not been undertaken by Government agencies in a concerted manner.