ISSUE 1665 Thursday 16 December 1999

Samaritans warn of Millennium suicide rise By Aisling Irwin, Medical Correspondent

MILLENNIUM hype is distressing thousands of people, raising fears of an unprecedented suicide rate in January, warn the Samaritans.

People who fear that they are social failures if they are alone on Millennium Eve have been telephoning the charity's helpline for months. Depressed callers are also daunted by the prospect of a new century - rather than just another day - without hope.

The charity, which provides confidential support to people in crisis, is expecting at least 18,000 calls on Dec 31, which it says may prove to be its busiest night since it was founded in 1953. Young people were said to be particularly vulnerable to a sense of failure if they do not have the time of their lives on New Year's Eve.

There will be an "incredible and depressing" sense of anticlimax when people discover their lives have not changed, said the charity at the launch of its Time Please campaign, which is being supported by the comedian Harry Enfield and the actor Stephen Fry.

Simon Armson, chief executive of the Samaritans, said: "The hype that has surrounded the Millennium is enormous. It has created huge expectations. For a lot of people there is a widening emotional gap that they perceive exists between them and everyone else who is having so much fun."

He urged people to look out for those who may be lonely over New Year. He said: "Every human being has a responsibility to give support to other human beings who are not having as good a time as they are."

The call rate to the Samaritans, which totalled 4.5 million last year, rises by eight per cent between Christmas and New Year, and suicide rates surge every January.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), December 17, 1999

Answers

"There will be an "incredible and depressing" sense of anticlimax when people discover their lives have not changed".

Not for this bloke. If my life hasn't changed much on New Year's and the next few weeks, it'd be 'incredible and joyous' sense of exhiliration! A little perspective does wonders, I guess.

354 1/2 hours...

-- counting down (the@hours.now), December 17, 1999.

Don't Forget Convicts at Christmas

LONDON (Reuters) - A British prison reform group appealed Wednesday for convicts to be given home leave over the millennium holiday to prevent them from committing suicide.

The Howard League said it had written to Martin Narey, director general of the Prison Service, asking him to tell prison governors to exercise compassion when considering home leave for inmates over the holiday period.

The number of prisoners committing suicide in jails in England and Wales has hit a record high of 84 this year, two more than in 1998.

Calling for more prisoners to be granted leave, Howard League Director Frances Crook said:

``I believe this would be in the interests of everyone, particularly staff who have to work over the holidays who will be under great pressure dealing with the high numbers of distressed prisoners.''

The Prison Service said it did not expect any change in the rules allowing inmates home over Christmas to maintain family ties.

Prisoners, mainly those in the lowest security category, were normally granted up to a week's leave over Christmas but were back behind bars over the New Year.

The Prison Service was wary of allowing out prisoners who were at risk of self-harm or suicide for fear it would encourage others to harm themselves in order to get a spell of freedom, a spokesman said.

Steps to reduce suicides among the 66,000 prison population included screening of prisoners at risk, targeting local prisons where a disproportionate number of deaths occur and improving staff training, he said

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), December 17, 1999.