From BBC website - More Suicides in May (in the UK)

[Guest guest]

Summer sunlight helps to trigger a seasonal rise in suicides, claim UK

researchers.

 

The Priory Group says more people take their lives in May than in any

other month, which could be down to the climate.

 

The extra sunshine, which helps combat depression, may also provide

the people the energy they need to act on their suicidal feelings,

they believe.

 

There is one suicide every 84 minutes in UK and Ireland.

 

May peak

 

Around 6,300 people take their lives each year, the Priory Group said.

 

Professor Chris Thompson, the group's director of healthcare services,

said research showed there was a direct link between the amount of

sunshine and the national suicide rate.

 

In Scandinavia and Canada, studies have shown that those who commit

suicide have low levels of a " happy " brain chemical called serotonin.

 

Others have shown that serotonin levels often rise with the amount of

sunlight a person is exposed to.

 

Professor Thompson said: " It is a harsh irony that the partial

remission which most depression sufferers experience in the spring

often provides the boost of energy required for executing a suicide plan.

 

" People coming out of depression have a higher suicide rate than those

who are severely depressed and this is exacerbated by the season.

 

Seasonal

 

" Spring is a time for new beginnings and new life, yet the

juxtaposition between a literally blooming world and the barren inner

life of the clinically depressed is often too much for them to bear, "

he said.

 

A spokeswoman from the Samaritans said there definitely was a rise in

suicide rates in spring/summer.

 

She said a number of factors might be involved, such as changes in

body clock and social interactions.

 

Figures show there has been a 50% rise in attempted suicides since

1990. Most suicides are among men.

 

Amelia Mustapha from the Depression Alliance said: " Depression is a

debilitating, life-threatening disease which affects one in five

people at some stage in their lives.

 

" Unfortunately, depression is still under-diagnosed, which means that

hundreds of thousands of people in the UK are trapped in the throes of

this potentially-fatal illness.

 

" We urge anyone who feels suicidal, or who believes that they are

seriously depressed, to visit their GP for help.

 

" The good news is that depression can be successfully treated and many

affected by the condition go on to lead happy and fulfilling lives. "

[Guest guest]

In the past few mins I have been listening to a news item about the

fact that Bill Clinton is to be the principal speaker at an evening

to raise awareness about suicides in Ireland. Someone is bitching

that the money that he will be paid would be better spent trying to

prevent the suicides. That does not make sense because it is a case

of having to spend money to make more money and hopefully a few

lives will be saved as a result of the evening.

A few years ago people became aware of the fact that the suicide

rate in a certain area was abnormally high and it was later

discovered that the priest was a paedophile and was the cause of the

abnormality. Maybe if we can get rid of the priests, we can reduce

the suicides.

Mary

, " heartwerk " <heartwork@c...>

wrote:

> Summer sunlight helps to trigger a seasonal rise in suicides,

claim UK

> researchers.

>

> The Priory Group says more people take their lives in May than in

any

> other month, which could be down to the climate.

>

> The extra sunshine, which helps combat depression, may also provide

> the people the energy they need to act on their suicidal feelings,

> they believe.

>

> There is one suicide every 84 minutes in UK and Ireland.

>

> May peak

>

> Around 6,300 people take their lives each year, the Priory Group

said.

>

> Professor Chris Thompson, the group's director of healthcare

services,

> said research showed there was a direct link between the amount of

> sunshine and the national suicide rate.

>

> In Scandinavia and Canada, studies have shown that those who commit

> suicide have low levels of a " happy " brain chemical called

serotonin.

>

> Others have shown that serotonin levels often rise with the amount

of

> sunlight a person is exposed to.

>

> Professor Thompson said: " It is a harsh irony that the partial

> remission which most depression sufferers experience in the spring

> often provides the boost of energy required for executing a

suicide plan.

>

> " People coming out of depression have a higher suicide rate than

those

> who are severely depressed and this is exacerbated by the season.

>

> Seasonal

>

> " Spring is a time for new beginnings and new life, yet the

> juxtaposition between a literally blooming world and the barren

inner

> life of the clinically depressed is often too much for them to

bear, "

> he said.

>

> A spokeswoman from the Samaritans said there definitely was a rise

in

> suicide rates in spring/summer.

>

> She said a number of factors might be involved, such as changes in

> body clock and social interactions.

>

> Figures show there has been a 50% rise in attempted suicides since

> 1990. Most suicides are among men.

>

> Amelia Mustapha from the Depression Alliance said: " Depression is a

> debilitating, life-threatening disease which affects one in five

> people at some stage in their lives.

>

> " Unfortunately, depression is still under-diagnosed, which means

that

> hundreds of thousands of people in the UK are trapped in the

throes of

> this potentially-fatal illness.

>

> " We urge anyone who feels suicidal, or who believes that they are

> seriously depressed, to visit their GP for help.

>

> " The good news is that depression can be successfully treated and

many

> affected by the condition go on to lead happy and fulfilling

lives. "

[Guest guest]

Hi Mary

 

It always helps to get a high profile person to speak about your cause -

otherwise nobody takes any notice.

 

Are the figures for suicide particularly high in Ireland?

 

It's a shame about the priest - unfortunately there have recently been

several cases of clergy (from all religions) abusing youngsters.

 

Jo

 

 

 

> In the past few mins I have been listening to a news item about the

> fact that Bill Clinton is to be the principal speaker at an evening

> to raise awareness about suicides in Ireland. Someone is bitching

> that the money that he will be paid would be better spent trying to

> prevent the suicides. That does not make sense because it is a case

> of having to spend money to make more money and hopefully a few

> lives will be saved as a result of the evening.

> A few years ago people became aware of the fact that the suicide

> rate in a certain area was abnormally high and it was later

> discovered that the priest was a paedophile and was the cause of the

> abnormality. Maybe if we can get rid of the priests, we can reduce

> the suicides.

> Mary

[Guest guest]

I believe that Ireland has traditionally had a high rate of suicide

because in the bad old days the best and brightest in the family

went to the UK or the US and anyone that was a little bothered or

simple stayed here but thankfully that trend has gone. These days we

are importing people in their thousands. We used to own a nightclub

so we knew all the kids in town and its amazing how many have gone

that way. Bright clever pleasant young guys that you would have

thought had every thing to live for. It gets me down just to think

of it. I have just realised that I do not recall and girls

committing suicide. Are we natuarally more contented or are our

expectations reduced which causes our dissapointments to be less.

Mary

 

, " Jo Cwazy " <heartwork@c...> wrote:

> Hi Mary

>

> It always helps to get a high profile person to speak about your

cause -

> otherwise nobody takes any notice.

>

> Are the figures for suicide particularly high in Ireland?

>

> It's a shame about the priest - unfortunately there have recently

been

> several cases of clergy (from all religions) abusing youngsters.

>

> Jo

>

>

>

> > In the past few mins I have been listening to a news item about

the

> > fact that Bill Clinton is to be the principal speaker at an

evening

> > to raise awareness about suicides in Ireland. Someone is bitching

> > that the money that he will be paid would be better spent trying

to

> > prevent the suicides. That does not make sense because it is a

case

> > of having to spend money to make more money and hopefully a few

> > lives will be saved as a result of the evening.

> > A few years ago people became aware of the fact that the suicide

> > rate in a certain area was abnormally high and it was later

> > discovered that the priest was a paedophile and was the cause of

the

> > abnormality. Maybe if we can get rid of the priests, we can

reduce

> > the suicides.

> > Mary

[Guest guest]

Jo

I did reply to your query several hours ago and it does not seem to

have got through. I hate to repeat it because if they both get

through it will look as if I am a bit doddery and forgetting that I

has replied ( I am actually and have a very bad memory). Dont want

you to think that I am rude and ignoring your response.

Mary

, " Jo Cwazy " <heartwork@c...> wrote:

> Hi Mary

>

> It always helps to get a high profile person to speak about your

cause -

> otherwise nobody takes any notice.

>

> Are the figures for suicide particularly high in Ireland?

>

> It's a shame about the priest - unfortunately there have recently

been

> several cases of clergy (from all religions) abusing youngsters.

>

> Jo

>

>

>

> > In the past few mins I have been listening to a news item about

the

> > fact that Bill Clinton is to be the principal speaker at an

evening

> > to raise awareness about suicides in Ireland. Someone is bitching

> > that the money that he will be paid would be better spent trying

to

> > prevent the suicides. That does not make sense because it is a

case

> > of having to spend money to make more money and hopefully a few

> > lives will be saved as a result of the evening.

> > A few years ago people became aware of the fact that the suicide

> > rate in a certain area was abnormally high and it was later

> > discovered that the priest was a paedophile and was the cause of

the

> > abnormality. Maybe if we can get rid of the priests, we can

reduce

> > the suicides.

> > Mary

[Guest guest]

In another life I worked at a rehab center (Nursing Services Coordinator)

which had an acute psych unit. I think this study is looking at this from

the wrong end. Although there is more daylight, a depressed person would be

reacting to the long period of insufficient sunlight. By the end of the

winter, it sometimes doesn't make any difference that spring has come. They

have, by then, reached the end of their limits and nothing would make any

difference.

 

Lynda

-

Mary Minihane <minih

 

Tuesday, May 10, 2005 12:13 PM

Re: From BBC website - More Suicides in May (in the

UK)

 

 

> I believe that Ireland has traditionally had a high rate of suicide

> because in the bad old days the best and brightest in the family

> went to the UK or the US and anyone that was a little bothered or

> simple stayed here but thankfully that trend has gone. These days we

> are importing people in their thousands. We used to own a nightclub

> so we knew all the kids in town and its amazing how many have gone

> that way. Bright clever pleasant young guys that you would have

> thought had every thing to live for. It gets me down just to think

> of it. I have just realised that I do not recall and girls

> committing suicide. Are we natuarally more contented or are our

> expectations reduced which causes our dissapointments to be less.

> Mary

>

> , " Jo Cwazy " <heartwork@c...> wrote:

> > Hi Mary

> >

> > It always helps to get a high profile person to speak about your

> cause -

> > otherwise nobody takes any notice.

> >

> > Are the figures for suicide particularly high in Ireland?

> >

> > It's a shame about the priest - unfortunately there have recently

> been

> > several cases of clergy (from all religions) abusing youngsters.

> >

> > Jo

> >

> >

> >

> > > In the past few mins I have been listening to a news item about

> the

> > > fact that Bill Clinton is to be the principal speaker at an

> evening

> > > to raise awareness about suicides in Ireland. Someone is bitching

> > > that the money that he will be paid would be better spent trying

> to

> > > prevent the suicides. That does not make sense because it is a

> case

> > > of having to spend money to make more money and hopefully a few

> > > lives will be saved as a result of the evening.

> > > A few years ago people became aware of the fact that the suicide

> > > rate in a certain area was abnormally high and it was later

> > > discovered that the priest was a paedophile and was the cause of

> the

> > > abnormality. Maybe if we can get rid of the priests, we can

> reduce

> > > the suicides.

> > > Mary

>

>

>

>

>

> To send an email to -

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Mary

 

I'm sure the first one will come in eventually - sometimes messages

seem to take ages to come in.

 

You know, if a kid forgets to take his/her sandwiches to school -

they don't seem to worry about their memory - it's only as people get

older they think their losing it - your memory is probably fine.

 

Jo

 

, " Mary Minihane " <minih@g...> wrote:

> Jo

> I did reply to your query several hours ago and it does not seem to

> have got through. I hate to repeat it because if they both get

> through it will look as if I am a bit doddery and forgetting that I

> has replied ( I am actually and have a very bad memory). Dont want

> you to think that I am rude and ignoring your response.

> Mary

> , " Jo Cwazy " <heartwork@c...>

wrote:

> > Hi Mary

> >

> > It always helps to get a high profile person to speak about your

> cause -

> > otherwise nobody takes any notice.

> >

> > Are the figures for suicide particularly high in Ireland?

> >

> > It's a shame about the priest - unfortunately there have recently

> been

> > several cases of clergy (from all religions) abusing youngsters.

> >

> > Jo

> >

> >

> >

> > > In the past few mins I have been listening to a news item about

> the

> > > fact that Bill Clinton is to be the principal speaker at an

> evening

> > > to raise awareness about suicides in Ireland. Someone is

bitching

> > > that the money that he will be paid would be better spent

trying

> to

> > > prevent the suicides. That does not make sense because it is a

> case

> > > of having to spend money to make more money and hopefully a few

> > > lives will be saved as a result of the evening.

> > > A few years ago people became aware of the fact that the suicide

> > > rate in a certain area was abnormally high and it was later

> > > discovered that the priest was a paedophile and was the cause

of

> the

> > > abnormality. Maybe if we can get rid of the priests, we can

> reduce

> > > the suicides.

> > > Mary

[Guest guest]

-- In , " Mary Minihane " <minih@g...> wrote:

> I believe that Ireland has traditionally had a high rate of suicide

> because in the bad old days the best and brightest in the family

> went to the UK or the US and anyone that was a little bothered or

> simple stayed here but thankfully that trend has gone. These days

we

> are importing people in their thousands.

 

I know Irish women who moved to US when they were young - just upped

and left. How brave, I thought, and it must have been. Some of them

are now living in Ireland again, some in England.

 

>We used to own a nightclub

> so we knew all the kids in town and its amazing how many have gone

> that way. Bright clever pleasant young guys that you would have

> thought had every thing to live for. It gets me down just to think

> of it. I have just realised that I do not recall and girls

> committing suicide. Are we natuarally more contented or are our

> expectations reduced which causes our dissapointments to be less.

 

I don't know the answer to that one I'm afraid.

 

JO

 

> Mary

>

> , " Jo Cwazy " <heartwork@c...>

wrote:

> > Hi Mary

> >

> > It always helps to get a high profile person to speak about your

> cause -

> > otherwise nobody takes any notice.

> >

> > Are the figures for suicide particularly high in Ireland?

> >

> > It's a shame about the priest - unfortunately there have recently

> been

> > several cases of clergy (from all religions) abusing youngsters.

> >

> > Jo

> >

> >

> >

> > > In the past few mins I have been listening to a news item about

> the

> > > fact that Bill Clinton is to be the principal speaker at an

> evening

> > > to raise awareness about suicides in Ireland. Someone is

bitching

> > > that the money that he will be paid would be better spent

trying

> to

> > > prevent the suicides. That does not make sense because it is a

> case

> > > of having to spend money to make more money and hopefully a few

> > > lives will be saved as a result of the evening.

> > > A few years ago people became aware of the fact that the suicide

> > > rate in a certain area was abnormally high and it was later

> > > discovered that the priest was a paedophile and was the cause

of

> the

> > > abnormality. Maybe if we can get rid of the priests, we can

> reduce

> > > the suicides.

> > > Mary

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure. I do know that the ways females choose to commit

suicide are less " successful " (if you want to call it that). Like

pills or whatnot. Apparently, they don't want people to have to

clean up a mess, and so don't choose the really effective methods

like a gun to the head, etc...

 

, " Mary Minihane " <minih@g...>

wrote:

> I believe that Ireland has traditionally had a high rate of

suicide

> because in the bad old days the best and brightest in the family

> went to the UK or the US and anyone that was a little bothered or

> simple stayed here but thankfully that trend has gone. These days

we

> are importing people in their thousands. We used to own a

nightclub

> so we knew all the kids in town and its amazing how many have gone

> that way. Bright clever pleasant young guys that you would have

> thought had every thing to live for. It gets me down just to think

> of it. I have just realised that I do not recall and girls

> committing suicide. Are we natuarally more contented or are our

> expectations reduced which causes our dissapointments to be less.

> Mary

>

> , " Jo Cwazy " <heartwork@c...>

wrote:

> > Hi Mary

> >

> > It always helps to get a high profile person to speak about your

> cause -

> > otherwise nobody takes any notice.

> >

> > Are the figures for suicide particularly high in Ireland?

> >

> > It's a shame about the priest - unfortunately there have

recently

> been

> > several cases of clergy (from all religions) abusing youngsters.

> >

> > Jo

> >

> >

> >

> > > In the past few mins I have been listening to a news item

about

> the

> > > fact that Bill Clinton is to be the principal speaker at an

> evening

> > > to raise awareness about suicides in Ireland. Someone is

bitching

> > > that the money that he will be paid would be better spent

trying

> to

> > > prevent the suicides. That does not make sense because it is a

> case

> > > of having to spend money to make more money and hopefully a few

> > > lives will be saved as a result of the evening.

> > > A few years ago people became aware of the fact that the

suicide

> > > rate in a certain area was abnormally high and it was later

> > > discovered that the priest was a paedophile and was the cause

of

> the

> > > abnormality. Maybe if we can get rid of the priests, we can

> reduce

> > > the suicides.

> > > Mary

[Guest guest]

Luckily I have not had much first hand experience of people

committing suicide (and I know some people do not like me talking of

just a couple of people in my experience) but a friend tried to

commit suicide, she used pills, several times, and a friends son

tried also several times, with pills. Thankfully neither succeeded

and now are living happy lives.

 

Jo

 

, " sara " <gagrip5> wrote:

> I'm not sure. I do know that the ways females choose to commit

> suicide are less " successful " (if you want to call it that). Like

> pills or whatnot. Apparently, they don't want people to have to

> clean up a mess, and so don't choose the really effective methods

> like a gun to the head, etc...

>

> , " Mary Minihane " <minih@g...>

> wrote:

> > I believe that Ireland has traditionally had a high rate of

> suicide

> > because in the bad old days the best and brightest in the family

> > went to the UK or the US and anyone that was a little bothered or

> > simple stayed here but thankfully that trend has gone. These days

> we

> > are importing people in their thousands. We used to own a

> nightclub

> > so we knew all the kids in town and its amazing how many have

gone

> > that way. Bright clever pleasant young guys that you would have

> > thought had every thing to live for. It gets me down just to

think

> > of it. I have just realised that I do not recall and girls

> > committing suicide. Are we natuarally more contented or are our

> > expectations reduced which causes our dissapointments to be less.

> > Mary

> >

> > , " Jo Cwazy " <heartwork@c...>

> wrote:

> > > Hi Mary

> > >

> > > It always helps to get a high profile person to speak about

your

> > cause -

> > > otherwise nobody takes any notice.

> > >

> > > Are the figures for suicide particularly high in Ireland?

> > >

> > > It's a shame about the priest - unfortunately there have

> recently

> > been

> > > several cases of clergy (from all religions) abusing youngsters.

> > >

> > > Jo

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > > In the past few mins I have been listening to a news item

> about

> > the

> > > > fact that Bill Clinton is to be the principal speaker at an

> > evening

> > > > to raise awareness about suicides in Ireland. Someone is

> bitching

> > > > that the money that he will be paid would be better spent

> trying

> > to

> > > > prevent the suicides. That does not make sense because it is

a

> > case

> > > > of having to spend money to make more money and hopefully a

few

> > > > lives will be saved as a result of the evening.

> > > > A few years ago people became aware of the fact that the

> suicide

> > > > rate in a certain area was abnormally high and it was later

> > > > discovered that the priest was a paedophile and was the cause

> of

> > the

> > > > abnormality. Maybe if we can get rid of the priests, we can

> > reduce

> > > > the suicides.

> > > > Mary