Columnist Clive Smith provoked debate on social media about male mental health, depression and suicide yesterday following a column that complained depression has “become like an epidemic of the modern era”.
Clive Smith’s column in The News yesterday urged men to “buck up” and “quit the moaning”, prompting a strong response from Cllr Will Purvis, who chairs Portsmouth City Council’s Education, Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee.
Cllr Purvis posted his letter to The News on his Facebook page.
My letter to The News after they published a frankly disgusting ‘comment’ piece today, by Clive Smith, attacking young…
Posted by Will Purvis on Tuesday, 1 December 2015
The column was subsequently removed from The News’ website but screenshots were shared on Twitter as readers responded online.
Feeling down? Never read this newspaper. pic.twitter.com/JBM8wROJ37
— Matt Haig (@matthaig1) December 1, 2015
Hey @portsmouthnews, on NYE 2010 I found my best friend hanging in his wardrobe. If only Clive Smith was about earlier to buck his ideas up.
— Charlie Thompson (@SouthseaCharlie) December 1, 2015
Novelist and journalist Matt Haig also tweeted his disappointment.
"Bipolar seems to be all the rage". Yes, regional newspaper, right up there with liver cancer and Parkinson's and the other hip cool things.
— Matt Haig (@matthaig1) December 1, 2015
Male suicide is the leading cause of death for men between 20 and 34 years in England and Wales.
Depression can be an education. It intensifies life, negatively. But that microscope can give you knowledge. It can teach you how to live.
— Matt Haig (@matthaig1) December 1, 2015
Elise Brewerton, reporter and feature writer for The News, responded with ‘disgust’ to the column, which she insisted she and colleagues had not seen in advance of its publication.
Health reporter for The News, Priya Mistry, was also quick to denounce the column.
People – including men – should feel empowered and encouraged to talk about mental health issues. No matter is small or trivial…
— Priya Mistry (@priya_mistry) December 1, 2015
The News has since removed the article from its website.
But at least we've managed to get the Portsmouth Evening News to take the stigmatising article down. Well done, folk.
— Matt Haig (@matthaig1) December 1, 2015
