This book argues that suicidal people have the right to receive
treatment and for reasonable steps to be taken that they are protected
from killing themselves. Those suffering threats to life from mental
health issues deserve the same protection as those who face threats to
life from ill health or violence from others. The book explores the
ethical and legal case for giving those beset with suicidal thoughts the
treatment they need and for reasonable steps to be taken to prevent them
attempting suicide.
Debates around suicide tend to be dominated by cases involving those
with terminal medical conditions seeking assisted dying. But of those
wishing to die, it is far more common to find middle aged men and young
people oppressed by mental health and personal problems. Too often the
woeful failure in the funding of mental health services in the UK means
that suicidal people are denied the support and help they desperately
need. This ground-breaking book makes the legal and ethical case for
recognising that the state and public authorities have a duty to provide
and implement an effective suicide prevention strategy.