Madam,- The recent suicides of four men and a woman, and theattempted suicide of one further man illustrates two things: Firstly,the fact that in our increasingly complex society the supportmechanisms necessary to address the fears stresses of modern life arenot as available as they should be particularly to the most vulnerablein our society.
Secondly, that such coping mechanisms as exist, exist more so forwomen than for men, as is traditional in most areas of medicine andsocial service. It is instructive to note that the life expectancy ofwomen was not always greater than that of men. In fact it is only inrecent times that this is so.
The disparity in resources devoted solely to women's health asopposed to the resources devoted solely to men's health has had animpact to such an extent that men are more likely to commit suicidewhile more resources are available and targeted for women sufferingfrom depression. While men are more likely to be killed or badlyinjured in a violent attack, advertising of such risks is more likelyto be targeted at women. And while men are likely to die eight yearsearlier than women from entirely preventable causes, more resources aredevoted to women's medical care than to men's.
Can anyone give me a good reason why? - Yours, etc.,
O'Donnell Sweeney, Solicitors,
Earlsfort Centre,
Earlsfort Terrace,
Dublin 2. 4300