Sir, – I commend Donal Walsh for his bravery and his steadfastness in his battle with cancer (“Teenager with cancer speaks of anger at youth suicide”, March 28th). Cancer is a terrible disease that affects far too many people and it is wonderful that he has highlighted that this terrible disease affects people of all ages and genders throughout Ireland.
However, while there has been tremendous progress in battling cancer in Ireland in recent years, the same can’t be said for depression. Depression is an equally devastating illness that affects just as many people as cancer does, if not more. This is why I am disappointed by Mr Walsh’s comments on suicide. Depression is an illness that will affect one in four Irish people throughout their lives. It is not a choice. Just as no one chooses to suffer from cancer, no one chooses to suffer from depression. Despite Mr Walsh’s comments, no one “chooses” to end their life either; suicide is a consequence of depression, and the result of a lack of discussion on the topic.
I suffer from depression myself, and while I applaud Mr Walsh’s bravery in his own illness, his comments undermine the careful work that has been done to change attitudes towards depression. Let it be noted that suicide worst affects Irish males aged 16-25.
Mr Walsh must be commended in raising the issue of cancer among young men, but equally, we must raise the issue of depression among young Irish men and women. If we continue to view depression in a veiled and negative light, we will never make progress on the issue of youth suicide in Ireland. – Yours, etc,
EDWARD JOHN OAKES,
Johntown,
Navan,
Co Meath.