The silent scourge

OUR appalling road fatality figures have brought all kinds of Government initiatives in recent years, but we are doing very little about a greater social scourge - suicide.

In 2002 there were 451 suicides in Ireland compared with 341 deaths on the roads.

Suicide generally relates to males aged from 10 to 19.

Those best placed to see the danger signs are not teachers, doctors or social workers, but parents.

Educating parents/guardians in how to recognise and deal with the symptoms is the only way to tackle this dreadful waste of young lives.

Kevin Jordan

Village View

Clashmore

Co Waterford