Madam, - I find myself somewhat in agreement with John Waters (Opinion, January 14th) in relation to the social influence on suicide rates. Having worked in psychiatry for over 10 years, I am struck that I have never had a patient who suffered with a severe mental illness commit suicide, thank God. Interestingly, the suicides I have come across in my work have been very rare indeed, considering that suicide risk is supposed to be greatly increased by psychiatric disorder.
I have also been surprised by the number of "non-psychiatric" cases of suicide, not to mention the number of people whom I knew socially who informed me of the deaths (by their own hands) of friends whom they had seen only days before and who had been in "great form".
I have no doubt of two things. Most of the people I have come across who have completed suicide had recently consumed alcohol, a depressant which disinhibits; that those whom I have known who completed suicide had no real concept of a power greater than themselves to whom they could turn in times of dire need.
Perhaps that is why there is a "spirituality" special interest group in the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Perhaps the biological, psychological and social aspects of health really are not sufficient, particularly in the 21st century. - Yours, etc,
Dr SEÁN Ó DOMHNAILL, Consultant Psychiatrist, Louth/Meath Mental Health Services, Sallins, Co Kildare.