Madam, - As survivors of the suicide of a loved one we were astonished and offended by Professor Casey's article (September 24th). To suggest that by honouring somebody who took his/her own life and by talking about them in a positive manner one is glorifying suicide is offensive and hurtful to all survivors of suicide. They know best what a waste of a life suicide is. But they must be allowed to talk about the suicide of a loved one openly without the fear of stigma and taboo.
Not talking about suicide doesn't make it go away. Suicides will always occur because some people simply will not accept help. To label all of them "mentally ill" or "troubled souls" doesn't help. Of course suicide prevention is important but it will not be achieved through stigmatising. The causes for suicide are very complex, each case is different. Despite some "copy-cat" suicides it is not a "contagious disease".
As an expert Professor Casey should choose her words more carefully and not increase the hurt and suffering of people who lost somebody through suicide. -Yours, etc.,
WILHELM BURGGRAF and KARIN KÄHLER, Kinvara, Co Galway