Madam, - Darragh O'Keeffe (Health Supplement, February 6th) is right to highlight the anger, confusion and helplessness felt by relatives when a loved one - already signalling her despair and intentions - eventually dies by suicide. And he hits the nail on the head by pointing to an over-reliance on the use of anti-depressants when dealing with depression.
I believe that psychotherapy and counselling should be firmly placed at the centre of the options that are considered when someone faces into the "black hole" that Mr O'Keeffe describes. People who suffer often need the encouragement, expertise and loving attention of someone who will help them to articulate not just their feelings but also their intuition about the root cause of their agony.
It is sometimes assumed that if a person's inner pain threatens to overwhelm them, the pain itself must be targeted and eliminated. That is the language of war and the use of drugs can be an easy and lazy first choice.
But pain is also a messenger and can be a powerful starting point for increased self-understanding and healing.
As W H Auden wrote: "In the deserts of the heart/ Let the healing fountain start". - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL JOYCE, Psychotherapist, Doon, Ballyheigue, Co Kerry.