The article ‘Strategy looks to address suicide’, published in the(Star, August 28) edition, revealed that 75 per cent of people who died from suicide were widowed, divorced, separated or single.
Social isolation is common among people with depression.
Loneliness also allows them to ruminate on their thoughts which can often be irrational.
An article published in the September/October issue of Scientific American Mind recommends support or social groups as being effective in lifting depression and preventing relapses.
It is important for people to have a support network.
Indeed, connecting with others is one of the five steps of wellbeing as we are, after all, a social species.
Unfortunately, socialising with others is usually the last thing a depressed person wants to do as they withdraw from family and friends and so it becomes a Catch-22 situation.
I think it is essential that front-line workers are trained to recognise the signs so that appropriate referrals can be made to mental health services as the article revealed more than half were not known to those services.
Michael Egan (full details supplied)
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