A powerful article by Claire Lomax, in last week’s Gazette, that highlighted the rise of suicides across the region. I personally know of four in the last three months, three being young men in their 20’s. The lockdown has caused huge psychological distress for many and particularly young people.

Young people are being accused of being irresponsible for simply trying to live their lives. They are the heroes in this, sacrificing what are probably the best times of their lives and for what: a disease that is hardly dangerous at all for them and also not dangerous for 99.5% of the population, a disease where the average death age is 82 and who will have 2 or more serious illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and acute respiratory ailments.

When the great depression arrives in a few months we won’t be talking about Covid any more: it will be the extent of human misery this will bring, of which young people again will have to bear the brunt. For those with depression and who are suicidal there will be no hiding place.

The government should come to its senses and take lessons from Sweden where, without lockdown, they have far fewer deaths per million than the UK, a still healthy economy and a happier, healthier population.

James O’Brien

Ilkley