Marital breakdown 'could have been a factor' in novelist's suicide
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Popular novelist dies by suicide
A Gloucestershire coroner has recorded a
verdict of suicide in the case of British novelist Susan Morgan,
who died in October 2009 during a vacation on the Isle of Man.
Ms Morgan, who wrote under the pen names Sue
Dyson and Zoe Barnes, carved out a successful career for herself as
an author and was a "pioneer" of the chick-lit movement, according
to her publishers. She authored a total of 45 works, including
Wedding Belles and Just Married and her most
recent publication Return to Sender.
A spokesperson for Ms Morgan's publisher,
Piatkus, told the Daily Mail: "All her stories were honest and
believable with flawed but honourable heroines any woman would want
to call a friend.
"She will be sorely missed by everyone who has
had the pleasure of working with her through her career as a
novelist."
The inquest into Ms Morgan's death heard that despite her
literary success she had experienced serious problems in her
personal life prior to her suicide, including chronic illness,
depression and the breakdown of her eight-year marriage.
Relationship breakdown 'a
factor' in author's death
While the precise reasons Ms Morgan decided to
take her own life may never be known, coroner Alan Crickmore cited
the emotional distress she felt at her separation from her husband
as a contributory factor in his report.
His assertion was drawn from testimony
provided by Ms Morgan's estranged husband Simon during the inquest.
Mr Morgan told the inquest that before their split his wife had led
an apparently fulfilling lifestyle.
He is quoted by the BBC as saying his wife was
"a great author, translator and mezzo soprano of high regard".
But he added that as their relationship broke
down and the couple separated, she became depressed and struggled
with her emotions. "She began to loathe the life she had and used
to cry a lot," he said.
Delivering his verdict, however, Coroner
Crickmore was careful to stress that other factors could have
played a part in Ms Morgan's decision to take her own life.
He said that physical pain caused by her
ill-health was also likely to have had a negative impact on her
state of mind in the period leading up to her suicide.
Divorce and suicide
Of course, it would be reductionist to suggest
that marital breakdown was the sole reason for Ms Morgan taking her
own life, or that any one event can act as a catalyst for
suicide.
However, on a wider scale, research has shown
that the dissolution of a marriage - particularly that which ends
in the trauma of divorce - can place a person more at risk of death
by suicide than those who remain in long-term relationships.
In fact, one US study by the National
Institute for Healthcare Research found that divorced people are
three times more likely to die by suicide than those who are
married.
Kevin Caruso, executive director of suicide
prevention, awareness and support organisation suicide.org, says:
"It is extremely common for people to become depressed over a
divorce.
"Untreated depression is the number one cause
for suicide. Thus, a divorce can significantly increase a person's
risk for suicide."
UK study notes divorce-suicide
'link'
An apparent link between marital breakdown and
suicide ideation was also noted in a UK-based study conducted in
2008 and published in the British Medical Journal.
The report, entitled Suicide Rates in
Young Men in England and Wales in the 21st Century, was
conducted by scientists and research fellows Lucy Biddle, Sara T
Brookes and David Gunnell of the University of Bristol and Anita
Brock of the Office for National Statistics.
They found that increases and decreases in
suicide rates between 1968 and 2005 appeared to directly correlate
with fluctuating levels of life-altering events, such as divorce
and unemployment.
The report concluded: "Suicide rates in young
men have declined markedly in the past ten years in England and
Wales.
"Reductions in key risk factors for suicide
[…] might be contributing to lower rates."
Life after divorce
Mr Caruso believes that many parents focus
their attention on the welfare of their children after the
breakdown of a marriage, meaning they may not be taking care of
their own emotional well-being.
He states that there are several key elements
to moving forward with life after marriage, all of which centre
around taking time to come to terms with the changes that have
taken place.
Writing for the suicide.org website, he
states: "If you are going through a divorce, you need to get a
strong support network in place. And get into therapy, whether you
think you need to or not."
"Express your feelings, talk out your
problems. Do not hold your emotions in."
He adds that a proactive attitude towards
physical health can also help people dealing with the emotional
fallout of a marriage breakdown, with exercise and a good diet able
to contribute to a more positive overall mental outlook.
Samaritans
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or
emotional distress, you can call Samaritans for support 24 hours on
08457 90 90 90 (UK) and 1850 60 90 90 (ROI), or email at jo@samaritans.org, or face to face -
visit http://www.samaritans.org/ for
your nearest branch.
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