Tragedy of suicide rate

Dec 1 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

IT’S desperately sad to discover that Kirklees has such a high suicide rate.

NHS Kirklees says the rates are coming down and has a number of suicide prevention programmes up and running.

People with mental health problems are especially vulnerable to taking their own lives.

Helping people with suicidal thoughts is surely a responsibility of society as a whole and that includes relatives, friends, workmates and health care professionals.

That help and support needs to be available as and when the person needs it – and quickly.

The deep concern is that the pressures of daily life are set to continue with the prospect of major job losses still to come. It can be exceptionally tough to find new work – and no job and little money can be soul-destroying.

Brilliant work is done by Samaritans volunteers and it’s unknown how many suicides these dedicated people may have prevented over the years.

When people are so desperate, just a listening ear can make such a difference.

Often those left behind are at a loss as to why a loved one should have decided to end it all.

Never forget that every life lost is a tragedy for so many.