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Police probe town's suicide spate Police probe town's suicide spate
(about 1 hour later)
Police and health services in south Wales have set up a group aimed at preventing more suicides in Bridgend and the surrounding area.Police and health services in south Wales have set up a group aimed at preventing more suicides in Bridgend and the surrounding area.
Last week, Natasha Randall, 17, was found hanging at her Blaengarw home, near Bridgend, and a girl believed to know her self-harmed a day later.Last week, Natasha Randall, 17, was found hanging at her Blaengarw home, near Bridgend, and a girl believed to know her self-harmed a day later.
Seven young people have committed suicide in the past year in the area.Seven young people have committed suicide in the past year in the area.
Officers said they had spoken to a number of young people and parents to urge them to be vigilant. Officers are investigating whether the girls had made contact on the internet, by e-mail or on a networking site.
South Wales Police have joined a focus group set up to tackle the issue of suicides and suicide attempts among young people in the area. Police also said they had spoken to a number of young people and parents to urge them to be vigilant.
The group, which also includes members from Bro Morgannwg Health Trust, local schools and Bridgend council, is working on an action plan. South Wales Police have joined a focus group, which also includes members from Bro Morgannwg Health Trust, local schools and Bridgend council, to help prevent suicides and attempted suicides.
We need to get the message across that they can contact us about anything they want Darren Matthews, SamaritansWe need to get the message across that they can contact us about anything they want Darren Matthews, Samaritans
Over the last incident, police said they were investigating whether there was any communication between the girls over the internet, either by e-mail or via social networking sites.
Supt Tim Jones, divisional commander of Bridgend police, said they were looking at the circumstance surrounding Natasha's death.Supt Tim Jones, divisional commander of Bridgend police, said they were looking at the circumstance surrounding Natasha's death.
"It is important to stress that at this time we have not established any direct links between [this] death and a 15-year-old girl attempting to harm herself in Pontycymmer on Friday."It is important to stress that at this time we have not established any direct links between [this] death and a 15-year-old girl attempting to harm herself in Pontycymmer on Friday.
'Prevention''Prevention'
"However they were known to each other as you would expect in small neighbouring communities," he said."However they were known to each other as you would expect in small neighbouring communities," he said.
"One line of enquiry within the investigation is the examination of the computer of the 17-year-old girl which is currently on-going."One line of enquiry within the investigation is the examination of the computer of the 17-year-old girl which is currently on-going.
"Clearly communication between friends and associates is an important consideration."Clearly communication between friends and associates is an important consideration.
"There is a growing trend for young people to communicate through telephone text messaging and also over the internet whether it's e-mail or within chat room forums.""There is a growing trend for young people to communicate through telephone text messaging and also over the internet whether it's e-mail or within chat room forums."
Last summer, Bridgend coroner Philip Walters said he was "desperately concerned" about the number of suicides among young men in the Bridgend and south Wales valleys area.Last summer, Bridgend coroner Philip Walters said he was "desperately concerned" about the number of suicides among young men in the Bridgend and south Wales valleys area.
Darren Matthews, branch director of the Samaritans charity in Bridgend, said there had been a "marked increase" in the suicide rate among young people over the past year, adding they had heard reports of at least one suicide a month.Darren Matthews, branch director of the Samaritans charity in Bridgend, said there had been a "marked increase" in the suicide rate among young people over the past year, adding they had heard reports of at least one suicide a month.
'Chat''Chat'
His organisation has been involved for over a year with a suicide prevention group, and has also been holding meetings with the local MP, Madeline Moon, on the issue since June.His organisation has been involved for over a year with a suicide prevention group, and has also been holding meetings with the local MP, Madeline Moon, on the issue since June.
"The problem is young people think their problems are too trivial. We need to get the message across that they can contact us about anything they want."The problem is young people think their problems are too trivial. We need to get the message across that they can contact us about anything they want.
"Madeline was instrumental in setting up what we call coffee-and-a-chat sessions to get young people to come along and chat, whether about moving from home to university, families, whatever," Mr Matthews said."Madeline was instrumental in setting up what we call coffee-and-a-chat sessions to get young people to come along and chat, whether about moving from home to university, families, whatever," Mr Matthews said.
Asked whether he thought modern technology could be adding to the problem, he said: "The internet is a method of communication that has been used for some time and just like the telephone you can't stop people using it.Asked whether he thought modern technology could be adding to the problem, he said: "The internet is a method of communication that has been used for some time and just like the telephone you can't stop people using it.
"We can't say whether it has any impact on suicides."We can't say whether it has any impact on suicides.
"We do a lot of work with social networking sites and we are on these websites and hopefully people will come through to us.""We do a lot of work with social networking sites and we are on these websites and hopefully people will come through to us."