Year: 1962 Source: The Lancet, v.2, (August 4, 1962), p.248 SIEC No: 20061045

This letter to the editor asserts the physician’s most important contribution to preventing suicide is to recognise depression & to single out for immediate attention those depressed patients who are actively suicidal. Carstairs also notes that making an appointment for psychiatric help may confirm a depressed patient’s fear of insanity. He recommends physicians discuss this fear with the patient as a precautionary measure.