Here Is The City will no doubt come under fire for dealing with such a politically incorrect subject as suicide. But a serious attempt to discuss suicide doesn't create or increase the risk of it happening - it actually reduces it.

The stressful world of the financial markets, of course, is not immune to incidents of this nature. In 2004 Richard Chang, a 48-year-old Abbey employee, jumped to his death from the firm's Triton Square, London offices. And Russian bond trader Dmitry Smolyaninov, 31, leapt to his death from an internal balcony at Citigroup Centre in Canary Wharf a couple of years back. The Citi employee fell 107 meters and landed in the firm's reception area. He is thought to have become depressed followed the breakdown of his marriage and a difficult divorce.

Just a month before Smolyaninov leapt to his death, 40-year-old Gulliermo Martinez jumped to his death from the 29th floor office of Citigroup Private Bank in Miami. He is said to have used a small sledgehammer to break through a window, then threw a computer monitor and chair out to make the hole large enough for him to make his 'escape'. And, last year in London, a City professional in his early 30s, made an 80 feet death leap from the seventh storey restaurant terrace at the Coq D'argent.

Most people who actually contemplate suicide don't actually want to die. The most common factors associated with attempted suicide are the lack of a meaningful personal relationship, unemployment, social deprivation, a history of physical or sexual abuse, substance abuse or social isolation. It is estimated that each year, in England and Wales alone, 140,000 people attempt to kill themselves. 20% will try more than once. 10% won't be around to have another go.

Men currently appear to be more vulnerable to death by suicide than ever before. 75% of suicides in the UK are men. In the 25 - 44 age range, men are four times more likely than women to kill themselves. Unskilled men are twice as likely to commit suicide than professional workers. Unemployed men are up to 3 times more likely to kill themselves than those in the general UK male population.

In recent years, the increase in drug abuse has resulted in the rise in cases of suicide among young men. Around 19,000 young people (aged 15 - 24) are said to attempt suicide in the UK each year. And suicide accounts for 20% of all deaths among young people - the second most common cause of death in this age range after accidental death. Young women in the 15 -19 age group are the most likely to attempt to kill themselves - but men in the same age range are most likely to die following an attempt.

There is also strong evidence to suggest that gay men and lesbians are more likely to lean towards suicide than the general population. Young gay people in particular often face pressures due to their sexuality. Suicides by gay men and lesbians are thought to account for up to a third of young person suicides in the UK.

Substance abuse is also recognised as a risk factor for suicide and suicide attempts. A 1999 report by the UK's Department of Health found that, among suicides outside of hospital, some 38% had a history of alcohol abuse, whilst 26% has a history of drug abuse. Mental illness also has an obvious impact. There's said to be a 15-20% increased risk of suicide for people with recurrent depression, and between 10 - 15% for those who suffer from schizophrenia.

But how do you know if a friend or loved one is working up to a suicide attempt ? Well, there are signs. These include:

• Loss of interest in usual activities
• Showing signs of sadness, hopelessness and irritability
• Changes in appetite, weight, behaviour, level of activity or sleep patterns
• Loss of energy
• Making negative comments about self
• Recurring suicidal thoughts or fantasies
• Sudden changes from extreme depression to being 'at peace'.

Finally, we'll take a quick look at those who have been left behind - the friends or loved ones who have lost someone close to suicide, or just people who happened to witness a successful attempt.

Train drivers who witness a suicide when at work, for example, have reported a range of subsequent problems, including insomnia, sexual difficulties, recurrent nightmares and a heightened sense of stress and anxiety.

And 'survivors' of a successful suicide often experience feelings of anger and guilt. Allison Werthiemer writes in 'A Special Scar' that: 'Survivors who either witness the person committing suicide or, more commonly, find the body, are left to come to terms with a shattering experience. Memories of the scene are likely to remain with the survivor for many years to come, and may never disappear completely. Even when a person has not actually discovered the body, being told about the circumstances of the suicide can leave the survivor with horrific images of the scene of the death, making it hard for them to think about anything else at first. Where the victim died in a violent manner, this reaction is likely to be intensified'. Common features of bereavement include numbness, denial, anger and depression. Acceptance is unfortunately sometimes a long way off.

Sources include - www.mind.org.uk , www.suicidereferencelibrary.com

The writer's uncle died by his own hand 20 years ago. He was approaching his 50th birthday. He hung himself.

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