The other struggle drug addicts face: Being labelled weak, not sick

Most people, including doctors, need to overcome their own biases against those struggling with addiction.

- Chong Siow Ann

He was a young man who was admitted to hospital because he felt suicidal. It was nothing new; ever since he started using drugs, he had had these recurring thoughts of self-destruction.

He had done things while he was on drugs, and while trying desperately to get drugs, that filled him with shame and self-loathing. To blot out these feelings, he would get high again. He had gone through rounds of detoxes, stays in halfway houses, and a rotating roster of well-intentioned helpers. And now, once again, he was back in hospital.

After a few days of stay, his mental state appeared to improve; he denied having any ongoing suicidal thoughts, became more communicative, and assured us that he would attend his follow-up appointment with our specialised addiction service. He promised his wife that he would stay at another halfway house, one that had been arranged for by his pastor.

He was assessed to be no longer at imminent risk of harm. He seemed earnest and sincere about wanting to turn over a new leaf, so we discharged him with these well-laid follow-up plans in place.

Two weeks later, he was dead. It was later established that he had taken his own life.

I was appalled. It wasn't that, before this, I had not lost patients who died by suicide.

In my profession, there is a saying: "There are two kinds of psychiatrists – those who have had patients who died by suicide, and those who will." And I had been in practice long enough for that to have happened a few painful times. But this was somewhat different.