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Call for action on young suicides Suicide spate 'masks' wider worry
(about 8 hours later)
More action needs to be taken if Wales is to tackle its high suicide rate, according to an MP. The MP for Bridgend has said the recent spate of suicides in her constituency masked a high level of suicides across the whole of Wales.
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. In an MPs' debate Madeleine Moon called for a suicide prevention strategy for Wales, saying it had a "significantly higher rate than in England".
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. She said it was "striking and shocking" Wales had not set up a strategy.
The stepfather of one of the suicide victims said more support was needed. Huw Irranca-Davies, junior Welsh Minister, said "concerted efforts" were being made over 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. Ms Moon secured the adjournment debate in the Commons following 14 suspected suicides among people under 26 in and around Bridgend over the past year.
"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. She said she was concerned the rate of suicide is 35% higher in Wales than in England.
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 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 Cefn Cribbwr, 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 Nantymoel, 4 Feb 2008 - police say not connected with other deaths.
"It is vital that we have a co-ordinated national strategy - similar to the Scottish model. Ms Moon argued that money was key to a successful strategy for combating suicide, with Scotland investing £20m in a strategy while Bridgend was waiting for lottery funding which may not be available until 2009.
"Nationally, we need to have a strategy because this is a concern for the whole of Wales." She said: "I cannot be the only one who thinks it's unacceptable that young people will die while waiting for charity funds to be made available.
Police are currently reviewing a number of cases after the spate of suicides. "Wales needs a National Suicide Strategy. The successful templates are there in Scotland and England, the local strategy is there for Bridgend."
Ms Moon also attacked the gloomy picture painted of Bridgend in the media following the disclosure of the spate of young suicides.
She said the town was a "good place to live and bring up a family".
'Play a part'
Mr Irranca-Davies said the deaths in Bridgend were of great concern to all MPs and efforts were being made across Wales, and within the assembly, to deal with the suicide problem.
He said: "It is important we try to learn lessons from these tragic incidences that have occurred to enable us to consider how we prevent future deaths.
"Suicide prevention should not be seen as the exclusive responsibility of any one sector of society.
"We must all play a part in reducing suicides including the local communities."
The minister also urged responsibility in reporting the issue.
He said: "The reason why the Bridgend area is under intense focus is clear, firstly we acknowledge that over the last ten years the rates of suicide for those aged 16-29 are higher than elsewhere in Wales.
"The recent deaths of young women - an untypical pattern, and speculation over links to internet or other means, have given Bridgend an understandable prominence."
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.
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 Cefn Cribbwr, 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.
"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."
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.
"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.
"It's not surprising people will have some contact with each other bearing in mind they are very close in age."