Lee complained to one of my staff that he was depressed. Later that Friday afternoon we brought him to the hospital only to be told that a doctor would review his case on the Monday morning. However, in the early evening he cut his wrists and tried to take his life. Thankfully, we were able to rescue him in time. As it happened the wounds were only superficial. Nevertheless, another visit to the hospital was necessary. By the time I reached the Accident and Emergency Unit, Lee had already been seen by a doctor and was waiting for the verdict whether he should be admitted or not. I stayed with him into the early hours of the morning. Each minute seemed like an hour as we waited for the psychiatrist’s decision. With a vacant look of desperation, Lee stared at me and said he felt numb and nothing inside. When they finally decided he warranted a bed, it was a great relief to leave him in the care of capable hands. Sadly, with in hours he was dead. A bed sheet sealed his end. Even a hospital ward couldn’t prevent this tragedy from taking place. The rise in the rate of suicide amongst young people is of constant concern to our agency. It is estimated that at least two young people kill themselves each day in the UK. Simon Armson, Chief Executive of the Samaritans says, "we have this concept of new man, but he seems to be confused." In many places society is no longer a community. Individualism has given birth to the privatisation of life. Hence we become disengaged from each other and find it difficult to seek help from support agencies. There is a tremendous pressure on each person to succeed but no room for insecurity and weakness. The mentally ill are one of the most vulnerable and marginalised in our society. Those who appear normal on the outside are the most susceptible to risk. Beneath the surface they can be falling apart. These are the people who often slip through the net. You will find them in every hostel and roaming the streets of our major cities and towns. Their inability to cope can result in escapism with drugs and alcohol and often leads them into a world of crime. Prison is most certainly not the place for them. However, often it’s the best on offer. Misunderstanding and distorted perceptions greet them on a daily basis. I even question the rationale in operation within many of our psychiatric units. People can be treated as a body not as an individual. |
