Suicide: The People’s Choice

Suicide is actively causing one's own death. Like walking, it may have a host of motivations. Like coughing, it may be caused by a serious medical condition, by embarrassment, a wish for attention. To cast it always as a medical problem is a mistake, and leaves no space for friends, employers, old aunties and the check-out guy at the supermarket. We do not fully understand suicide - moving toward a more supportive society would be a good place to start. Suicide may be underpinned by mental illness, but more often it is not. Let's not clutter the place up with "experts", let's give the average bloke a go as well.