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It was an obvious conclusion that measures had to be taken, some of which have already been initiated, to
combat this large wastage of human lives and relieve the misery and suffering which an attempt on one's
life must entail. It is now a Department of Health ruling that every suicide admitted to hospital, and surviving,
must be interviewed by a psychiatrist. This approach offers the patient urgently needed medical and psychiatric
treatments where indicated and gives the psychiatrist, with the help of ancillary professional workers, an
opportunity to possibly alleviate any social and environmental factors which may have contributed towards a
patient taking so drastic a step as suicide.
As prevention is always better than cure, how can this aim be fostered further? First and foremost, we should
take anybody seriously who makes even the slightest reference to wanting to kill himself, whether this is
mentioned in the context of a medical examination or the confines of a social interview.
The person concerned should be referred immediately to the appropriate professional body and not be
"managed" by lay and inexperienced people. Wider knowledge of the environmental circumstances and mental
illnesses likely to give rise to suicide should be disseminated amongst professional workers by arranging seminars
and meetings and holding case conferences. It is hoped that the envisaged establishment of a local branch of the
Samaritans will greatly contribute towards helping people in distress and thereby possibly reduce the suicide
rate. As to public attitudes on the whole a greater understanding for those people in need of help and support,
especially at times of crises would further enhance our fight against suicides.