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Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Try to keep letters to fewer than 150 words. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com

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Doctors' suicides

Two classmates (University of Toronto, class of '75) – that I know of – died by suicide, one during medical school, one soon after (Suicide Shouldn't Be An Occupational Hazard For Doctors – Nov. 24). Did anyone talk about it in any helpful way? Not a chance.

In fact, during my internship, at the end of my rotation in internal medicine, my supervisor – who went on to become a dean of a faculty of medicine – upon learning of my intention to go into psychiatry, said, "Why would you want to waste a good career on a specialty like that?"

Attitudes like those contribute to a culture in which perfectionism is expected, and feelings are regarded as impediments to performance. Having served on the admissions committee to medical school at U of T, I've seen the stress engendered when the acceptance rate is only one in 10.

The No. 1 cause of death among physicians under 35 is suicide; the burnout rate among residents is estimated at 50 per cent.

André Picard is to be congratulated for shining a light on a dark corner of medical practice and education. While some strides are being made to support the mental health of future doctors, the attitude of my supervisor some 40 years ago is all too prevalent today. Until that is changed, too many of our best and brightest will die by their own hand.

Marshall Korenblum, chief psychiatrist, Hincks-Dellcrest Centre for Children, Toronto

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IS, pray tell?

Your statement that IS (or Daesh) is no more representative of Islam than the Ku Klux Klan is of Christianity should not be used to whitewash either Islam or Christianity (Why 'Islamic State' Is The Wrong Name – editorial, Nov. 20). There are intolerant fanatics in both religions.

As a letter writer observed, the Koran is full of both violent and peaceful imagery that is often contradictory ('Not In Our Name' – Nov. 23). The same could be said for the Old and New Testaments. Fanatics in both faith traditions tend to focus on violent passages in their sacred scriptures.

Tom Healy, Gatineau, Que.

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Daring Doo Doo

While most of the news these days leaves one feeling down, or even slightly depressed, the reports of a spontaneous rescue by a group of Good Samaritans in Toronto on Sunday was a breath of fresh air (Doo Doo The Clown Rescues Two Women In Full Costume – online, Nov. 23).

Doo Doo (a.k.a. childrens' entertainer Shane Farberman) and two costumed crusaders with him intervened when they saw a man chasing two women. Our heroes sprang into action, herding the ladies into the safety of Doo Doo's vehicle and calling 911.

In reality, Doo Doo was simply following a tradition that many circus operators have employed often at their shows through the years. They know that if things start to get a little out of control, there's only one thing to do.

Send in the clowns.

Jeffrey Peckitt, Oakville, Ont.

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Climate policy

I am pleased Premier Rachel Notley unveiled a day-to-day carbon reduction plan for Alberta. However, the "inconvenient truth" is that the plan does nothing to reduce the long-term ecological debt, or reduce the accumulation of the carbon footprint (Notley Unveils Carbon Plan On Eve Of First Ministers' Meeting – Nov. 23).

Will the national policy on climate change recognize this double bind? I think not. Justin Trudeau once pronounced that it would be foolish for Canada not to exploit its massive oil sands reserves, comparable in volume to the petroleum reserves of Saudi Arabia, so long as the demand for fossil fuels exists. The producer is thus exonerated and the consumer blamed for climate change.

Anthony Friend, ecological economist, Ottawa

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Beer mile? Chunder

As a runner with more than 30 marathons under my belt, I got a bit frothy over your remark about the beer mile (Foam And Fortune – editorial, Nov. 23).

You state that distance running "at its best is a punishing act of self-denial." I beg to differ: Punishing it may be, but it is in fact an act of self-affirmation!

Chris Gates, Pickering, Ont.

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I have a rather dim recollection of observing (definitely not participating in) a "Chunder Mile" on the Ilam campus of the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Memory tells me that the increasingly wobbly participants drank not only a full jug of beer (none of this piddly canned or bottled stuff), but also had to wolf down a New Zealand Railways meat pie between laps. It was not called the "Chunder Mile" for nothing! (Definition hint for the uninitiated: When you think "chunder," think hurling.) A gross spectacle but obviously memorable – although maybe not so much for those who took part.

John Mullinder, Brampton, Ont.

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Hats off to T.O.

The New York-based Citi Foundation studied 35 cities worldwide to evaluate the employment opportunities for people 18 to 25.

Lo and behold, Toronto ranked first in the report published Monday by the Economist Intelligence Unit, beating such cities as New York, Hong Kong, London and 31 others. The Globe and Mail has not reported this news to Canadians – that in our largest city we have outranked cities from around the world in affordability of education, ease of opening businesses, support from the government, excellent human and social capital and labour force participation.

But Toronto ranked 30 out of the 35 cities studied in its level of optimism about economic prospects. Perhaps that optimism would rank a little higher if The Globe helped support and celebrate Toronto's outstanding efforts. Toronto's worldwide first place in providing employment opportunities for our youth would be a good start.

David Gladstone, Toronto

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Rock 'em, sock 'em

Sock it to 'em, Prime Minister, with those red socks emblazoned with white maple leaves (First Ministers Agree To Forge National Climate Strategy – Nov. 24).

A best foot forward moment in Canadian politics.

Ian Trowell, London, Ont.

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There will be complaints, but I think we can all use a little lightening up and a smile.

I loved the socks.

Lynne Collins, Surrey, B.C.

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Who needs climate policy when you can get on the front page with your socks? What won't Justin Trudeau do to be the centre of attention?

Mason Clark, Winnipeg

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Your front-page picture was perfect. Bravo. Our Prime Minister had the right touch for the first gathering of Canada's premiers. Lots of chutzpah.

I wonder if he has Canadian underwear, too.

Ronnie Kaplansky, Toronto

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