In the last couple of weeks three people have jumped of a bridge and killed themselves in a small town in England. Well, at least press wrote about it. There were some well publicized suicides and even two people closely involved in its construction jumped from it.
During Labour Christian leadership suicides were hidden from public and doctors. A bit like hiding own sins. We do know that unemployment can lead to depression and increased suicide rates, so I can see why the previous government would want it hidden plus suicides are regarded as sinful by some religions.
American Army has a problem with suicides too. A report came out showing a number of factors to matter such as poor disciplinary regulatory accountability. That reminds some of us of poor accountability of medical regulator for a number of years.
Unlike British who are famously hateful of women doctors, Americans at least acknowledge that the rate of suicides is equal in male and female doctors.
Every time I drive over the suicide bridge late at night I cannot stop thinking about some desperate person standing exposed to whipping wind at great height of the bridge, not feeling it or anything anymore before jumping. It is very creepy on the nights when wisps of fog move across carriageway like transparent chiffon dress with nothing in it.
2 comments:
Having tried to commit suicide on several occasions in the last three years as a result of severe depression exacerbated by the treatment I have received at the hands of my employing trust, I believe that mental illness needs to be more openly discussed in medicine. When Daksha Emson killed herself in 2002 there was a public enquiry. Seemingly though nothing has changed. I am here because I have a good psychiatric team. I do not always want to be here because, after three years, I am still not back at work. The NHS managerial system has a long way to go before it really takes on board how serious mental illness really is.
Suicides in the medical profession are excessively high not because the doctors are mentally ill but due to the unreasonable work load and bullying by management. Unable to see a way to escape the horrendous life choice, doctors choose suicide.
What is needed is for the consultants to be brought down off their high horses. Junior doctors need to be treated with respect and not overworked. They certainly do not need to deal with the additional stress of being branded mad. Feelings of depression are normal and changeable.
Post a Comment