Bridgend’s 17th young victim found hanged
in 'suicide town'

As a man took his dog for a peaceful morning walk through a peaceful woodland next to his South Wales village, he stumbled across the body of Jenna Parry, 16, who had hanged herself from a tree. Friends and family were shocked at the news, unable to make sense of all the tragic events recently taking place in the South Wales area.

"I saw her last night and she was laughing and giggling, without a care in the world," said close family friend Lisa Jones. “This is just so awful. I can't understand what is going on around here."

A few days earlier, two cousins were found dead only a few hours apart in the same South Wales area. 17 young people between the age 15-27, living in and around Bridgend have hanged themselves since January 2007. It was said that several of the victims had friendship links on Bebo, a social networking site, and after each death, online profiles of the victims were changed into virtual shrines with messages such as “sleep tight” and “RIP”. Several commentators have suggested that the website allows the glorification of the deaths, promoting copycat suicides. Local police have dismissed fears of a suicide cult, and are still investigating.

The Welsh Assembly is launching a suicide prevention campaign with hopes to reduce suicide rates by 2012. The Health Minister in the Welsh Assembly, said:

“I have also agreed that there will be some early pilot projects in suicide prevention work in those areas with the highest suicide rates and I’m aware that the rates vary across Wales and are not associated with one area. This is a national problem and not solely in one local authority area, so the projects will be in different parts of Wales.”

Suicide rates amongst young people are on the increase, with several influences prompting young people to take control over their lives as individuals. The Victory Youth Group (VYG) works with young people every day and has encountered youths with the same or similar problems as the story above, many of whom have received counselling and support to help them turn their life around.

If you are a youth facing problems, contact the VYG now! And if you are a parent with concerns about the welfare of your son/daughter, contact the UCKG HelpCentre to speak to a spiritual counsellor free of charge.

Read Kiran’s story on how she was able to overcome suicidal thoughts.

Source: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/ & http://www.timesonline.co.uk

Released on Friday, 29th February 2008