This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/7231617.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Call for action on young suicides | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| More action needs to be taken if Wales is to tackle its high suicide rate, according to an MP. | More action needs to be taken if Wales is to tackle its high suicide rate, according to an MP. |
| Madeleine Moon said she is concerned the rate of suicide is 35% higher in Wales than in England - and is holding a Westminster debate on the issue. | Madeleine Moon said she is concerned the rate of suicide is 35% higher in Wales than in England - and is holding a Westminster debate on the issue. |
| The MP, whose Bridgend constituency has seen 14 suspected suicides of young people in the last year, wants a national strategy on suicide in place. | The MP, whose Bridgend constituency has seen 14 suspected suicides of young people in the last year, wants a national strategy on suicide in place. |
| The stepfather of one of the suicide victims said more support was needed. | The stepfather of one of the suicide victims said more support was needed. |
| Speaking ahead of the debate in the House of Commons, entitled 'Suicide Prevention Strategies', Ms Moon said she wanted Wales to follow Scotland's lead in addressing the problem. | Speaking ahead of the debate in the House of Commons, entitled 'Suicide Prevention Strategies', Ms Moon said she wanted Wales to follow Scotland's lead in addressing the problem. |
| "Scotland had a high suicide rate but tackled it and has brought their suicide rate down. It's now time for Wales to do the same," she said. | "Scotland had a high suicide rate but tackled it and has brought their suicide rate down. It's now time for Wales to do the same," she said. |
| We can assume or speculate but we can't really say what was going on in their minds at the time Chris Claypole, stepfather of David Dilling | We can assume or speculate but we can't really say what was going on in their minds at the time Chris Claypole, stepfather of David Dilling |
| "It is vital that we have a co-ordinated national strategy - similar to the Scottish model. | "It is vital that we have a co-ordinated national strategy - similar to the Scottish model. |
| "Nationally, we need to have a strategy because this is a concern for the whole of Wales." | "Nationally, we need to have a strategy because this is a concern for the whole of Wales." |
| Police are currently reviewing a number of cases after the spate of suicides. | Police are currently reviewing a number of cases after the spate of suicides. |
| A taskforce is also examining suicides in Bridgend county since 2004. | A taskforce is also examining suicides in Bridgend county since 2004. |
| Chris Claypole, whose 19-year-old stepson, David Dilling took his own life last February said he did not believe the cluster of suicides in the area was linked. | Chris Claypole, whose 19-year-old stepson, David Dilling took his own life last February said he did not believe the cluster of suicides in the area was linked. |
| Despite the fact David's friend Dale Crole also committed suicide, he never showed any signs that he too was considering killing himself, Mr Claypole said. | Despite the fact David's friend Dale Crole also committed suicide, he never showed any signs that he too was considering killing himself, Mr Claypole said. |
| BRIDGEND AREA SUSPECTED SUICIDES Dale Crole, 18, died Porthcawl, 5 Jan 2007David Dilling, 19, died Pyle, 18 Feb 2007Thomas Davies, 20, died Pyle, 25 Feb 2007Anthony Martin, 19, died Cefn Glas, Bridgend 26 Apr 2007 Alan Price, 21, died Maesteg Apr 2007 James Knight, 26, died Bridgend 17 May 2007Leigh Jenkins, 22, died Maesteg, 3 June 2007Zachary Barnes, 17, died Brackla, Bridgend, 11 Aug 2007Jason Williams, 21, died North Cornelly, 23 Aug 2007Andrew O'Neill, 20, died Nantymoel, 19 Sept 2007Liam Clarke, 20, died Bridgend, 27 Dec 2007Gareth Morgan, 27, died Bridgend, 5 Jan 2008Natasha Randall, 17, died Blaengarw, 17 Jan 2008Angie Fuller, 19, died Nant y Moel, 4 Feb 2008 - police say not connected with other deaths. | |
| He said the family were now full of questions that could not be answered. | He said the family were now full of questions that could not be answered. |
| "That's something we can never answer - why?" he said. | "That's something we can never answer - why?" he said. |
| "We can assume or speculate but we can't really say what was going on in their minds at the time." | "We can assume or speculate but we can't really say what was going on in their minds at the time." |
| He said he wanted to see more support in place locally for young people. | He said he wanted to see more support in place locally for young people. |
| "I wished they had set up somewhere where the kids can go," he said. | "I wished they had set up somewhere where the kids can go," he said. |
| "If there's a problem then it's not 'phone Childline', something like that. Someone you can speak face-to-face with." | "If there's a problem then it's not 'phone Childline', something like that. Someone you can speak face-to-face with." |
| Philip Walters, the coroner for Bridgend and the Glamorgan Valleys, said he felt the issues driving young people to suicide should be addressed by politicians. | Philip Walters, the coroner for Bridgend and the Glamorgan Valleys, said he felt the issues driving young people to suicide should be addressed by politicians. |
| But he stressed that, in his view, the cluster of suicides was "purely coincidental". | But he stressed that, in his view, the cluster of suicides was "purely coincidental". |
| "I think one has to remember it's not a large community. It's really close communities in the Bridgend area, the town and the villages which surround it," he added. | "I think one has to remember it's not a large community. It's really close communities in the Bridgend area, the town and the villages which surround it," he added. |
| "It's not surprising people will have some contact with each other bearing in mind they are very close in age." | "It's not surprising people will have some contact with each other bearing in mind they are very close in age." |