Sir: Thompson's article on the internet and suicide (Psychiatric Bulletin, August 1999, 23, 449–451) is a timely and welcome addition to the slowly growing literature on the internet and health. However, she could possibly have developed further positive ways of approaching the influence of the internet. Attempting to shut down, or restrict access to internet sites dealing with suicide is likely to be difficult to enforce in practice and may inadvertently block access to sources of positive help. It is important to stress the potential benefits of support online. The vast majority of online informants of my current thesis in medical anthropology on chronic fatigue syndrome and internet use reported that it provided a lifeline in the face of prejudice and lack of sympathy for family and desertion by friends. There is a vast untapped potential for NHS trusts and bodies such as Mind, or the Royal College of Psychiatrists to set up websites, moderated newsgroups and Internet Relay Chat (IRC) services to provide more therapeutic approaches to suicide and mental illness than those described by Thompson.

Josephine Lomax-Simpson was born on 11 March 1925 into a family with a long tradition of philanthropy. Her grandfather, as a young architect, designed model cottages for workers in Lancashire and at the turn of the century was involved with Lord Leverhulme in the creation of Port Sunlight, Merseyside. This was a similar enterprise for providing the workers in the Lever Brothers industries with decent accommodation and a quality of life.

Dr Bishay was born on 25 August 1936 in Sohag, Egypt, the first of six children of Coptic Christian parents from Upper Egypt. After an illustrious school career he moved to the capital to study medicine at the University of Cairo, obtaining his MB ChB in 1958. He worked as a general practitioner in various Egyptian military hospitals for the next four years and obtained his Diploma in General Medicine in 1964. He continued to work in military hospitals for two further years as a physician.

The HoNOS65+ Implementation Group Training Consortium was launched on 1 September 1999. It consists of a group of multi-disciplinary trainers retained by the HoNOS65+ Implementation Group of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Research Unit to provide training in the use and implementation of HoNOS65+. A variety of training packages is now available. These packages may include training trainers∗ sessions, direct training of individual clinicians, organisational support and help in developing administrative and IT systems, depending on the specific organisational or individual training needs. For further information please contact the Project Manager, Jody Raab (telephone: 0181 690 5647; fax: 0181 333 3495; e-mail: [email protected]; web page: www.umds.ac.uk\psychiatry\soap\hig65.htm).

Two new training resources are available from Pavillion Publishing. Offering a realistic and holistic approach to assertiveness training, Thumbs Up! by Deanne Bell emphasises the link between self-esteem and assertive behaviour. The package consists of simple exercises and activities which will encourage people with learning disabilities to appreciate their individual qualities and to develop their own identities. The materials include: group leader's guidance on running the sessions; session outlines with key learning points, activities and exercises on assertiveness skills, receiving criticism, behaviour, problem-solving and feeling good about yourself; and handouts, worksheets and resource sheets. The package is priced at £55 (subject to postage and packaging charges). This is My Home is a new video-based resource focusing on the significance of language and control in the process of empowerment. It illustrates how people can explore the language currently used within their service to decide on whether it affects them positively or negatively. The video is suitable for use with groups of staff and tenants with a wide range of needs and shows how people with few or no verbal communication skills can be encouraged to make choices about how and where they live. Accompanying notes encourage discussion and positive action planning. This video-training package is available at £30 plus VAT (subject to postage and packaging charges). Enquiries on either package should be directed to: Customer Services, Pavillion Publishing, 8 St George's Place, Brighton BN1 4GB (telephone: 01273 623222; fax: 01273 625526).

The Wirral and West Cheshire Community NHS Trust would like to announce a two-day conference entitled The Third Age into the Millennium – The Future of Elderly Mental Health Care. Taking place in Chester on 22–23 November 1999, this conference is aimed at a multi-disciplinary audience working within the elderly mental health setting. Topics will include service development, nursing in the year 2000, interface between medicine and psychiatry, dementia care mapping, memory clinic and CPA and Mental Health legislation. Further information: Alison Carroll, Business Manager, Mental Health, Clatterbridge Hospital, Wirral CH63 0LN (telephone: 051 334 4000, ext 4045). CPD points: 10.