Yes Minister, this is a crazy idea

IN the middle of Mental Health Week, when our Government is on a suicidal mission to take the UK out of Europe, the PM creates a diversion by announcing she has appointed a Minister for Suicide and more funds for the Samaritans.

The presumption is suicide is a mental health problem. That, I believe, is very dangerous, because suicide is often the route that people in utter desperation, because of their living conditions, are forced into. They die not because of mental illness, but because emotionally they have been battered to death by circumstances outwith their control. The only control anyone contemplating suicide is left with is to end their miserable existence.

Living conditions fuelled by the decade of Government austerity are literally driving the stuffing out of so many people. The young, the elderly, ex-military left without support in civvy street, NHS workers doing the work of three people. The NHS whistleblower who was not listened to, disabled people forced through the indignity of fitness-for-work assessments.

The policies of our uncaring Government in Westminster that have brought austerity for the many and untold wealth for the chosen few have driven so many of our citizens into despair.

Perhaps appointing a new Minister for Lunacy – with responsibility for working out what kind of issues people must have to think up such policies of misery – would be more appropriate than a Minister for Suicide. This new minister, appointed to operate independently of the Government, could do more for our nation’s mental health than any Suicide Minister ever will. But that, no doubt, will be seen as a suggestion coming from a lunatic.

Max Cruickshank Glasgow