CRACKDOWN ON DEALERS TO 'HALVE' SUICIDE RATE

A Derry mother who lost her son to suicide is urging the courts to
hand out tougher sentences to drug dealers in a bid to "halve" the
city's suicide rate.

Margaret McLaughlin, whose son Mark took his own life earlier this
year, issued her plea yesterday as part of World Suicide Prevention
Day.

"I can't speak for the whole community, and I don't claim to represent
anyone, but, in my opinion, drug and alcohol abuse is a major factor
in the suicide rate in this city. If you hand out longer sentences to
drug dealers, it will, I believe, halve the number of suicides in Derry.

"Derry needs to protect its young people now. I don't fear anyone
after what I went through; talking about it is not a problem - it is,
in fact, the solution.

"Carrying my son's coffin was the hardest thing I ever had to do.
After Mark committed suicide, it was all a question of 'why?'The truth
is that I tortured myself but, in the end, I know I loved my son and
that he loved me and his family. It was a very troubled mind which set
out on the path he took."

Margaret says that, whenever she hears of another suicide, the same
questions return to "haunt" her. "More help is needed in tackling this
problem and the stigma associated with suicide and mental illness. We,
as a community, have to break the silence of depression. We are
talking about an illness that does not surface in a rash or which can
be treated with a plaster. But, by reducing the loneliness experienced
by those in the community, we can reduce the level of suicide."

Mrs. McLaughlin also called for more education in the community:
"Since the troubles ended, that strong sense of community spirit and
sense of belonging has been eroded. These campaigns bring the
community together and make young people aware that there are people
here to listen. That is why initiatives such as Wednesday's 'good
neighbour day' is to be commended. It is time people started asking
after their neighbours' wellbeing and realised their own self worth."

Meanwhile, the rising number of suicides across the North has been
described as "distressing and tragic" by First Minister, Ian Paisley
and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness

Mr. McGuinness said: "Our young people, our sons and daughters, are
one of the greatest treasures any community has. We must make sure
they are equipped to deal with all the pressures today's world throws
at them and that they have access to the necessary services."