THIS refers to the piece `Disease, not crime` (April 6).

In England, suicide was a crime till Prof Stengelin the early1960sproved that though in England suicide is a crime it is not soin Scotland,though the suicide rate is the same. It was supported by authentic data. England removed this clause and de-criminalised attempted suicide and such patients were referred to psychiatrists.

We are told by Shanza Faiq that `India recently passed the Health Care Bill` ... to tackle depression, 70 years after England.

The bill decriminalises suicide and focuses on the underlying cause.

This is a landmark decision as far as depression is considered. In our society it is considered weakness in personality and this debilitating disorder is not accepted as disorder worthy of treatment. It has now been proved beyond doubt that attempted suicide is the result of depression (in more than 80pc cases).

To decriminalise an attempted suicide is a breal(through and a tremendous difference in bringing depression as a disorder whose symptoms are low mood, low energy and lack of interest. Associated symptoms can be insomnia, erectile disorder,constipation and anorexia.

The World Health Organisation figures are thateveryfoursecondsaperson attempts suicide and every 40 seconds there is a consummated suicide worldwide. It is because depression is rated to be 30 to 40pc (in a population every fourth person may suffer from depression in their lifetime).

Depression also causes absentism at work, deprives the individual of creativity and reflects adversely on our economy.

The mental health professional, legal community and human rights organisation should work for advocacy to decriminalise suicide.

Prof S. Haroon Ahmed President, Pakistan Association for Mental Health Karachi