I am truly moved by the news of the suicides in the Bridgend area- where seven young people have committed suicide since January 2007. South Wales Police are now looking in to whether this may have been some sort of suicide pact, initiated via chat sites such as Bebo.
Suicide rates amongst young people are on the increase unfortunately, and this may be due to there being more pressure on young people today, or a raft of other reasons. The Times reports that these suicides may have come about as a way for young people to reach 'instant fame', and that of the young people in the area that they interviewed, many cited that the victims could have been 'bored', and that they wanted to escape their everyday lives. Young people may be more passionate, take things out of proportion, but it is worrying that so many young people in this particular area have resorted to committing suicide.
I know that this is not a new phenomenon amongst young people. I am not that naive. I have experience personally of knowing someone who committed suicide at a young age. There is no clear answer as to what can be done to ensure that there isn't a growth in youth suicides, but it is an area that must be looked at more seriously than it is currently.
I know the areas where the young people come from relatively well - Pontycymmer and Blaengarw. They may be relatively deprived areas, but I sincerely believe that this doesn't explain the current situation. It may be a symptom of a larger problem, but not the only one. It is a challenge for people like me to ensure that there are more support groups and community facilities for young people in such areas, and that young people do not feel sidelined from society. There is still a long way to go.
Organisations such as the Samaritans are vital in helping young people through their problems, but again, as The Times article points out clearly, young people may not be aware of them, or know where to go for help. When I was attacked at University by a group of girls, I did not know where to turn to for help, and so I understand fully how we must ensure that we take the message to young people, as opposed to assuming that they will be OK, and that they can get on with their lives unscathed.
I am hoping to arrange to meet with young people in the Bridgend area to discuss this issue, amongst many, and I hope that the families affected by the suicides are receiving the support that they need. It is a message that more preventative work must be done to help young people who resort to suicide as the only answer to their problems.
2 comments:
I have to agree that we cannot try and point to one overarching reason for what a hugely tragic events. Of course there is societal changes and experiences that underpin many of these deaths, but the complexity of the issue comes so fundamentally from their individuality. Suicide is an often personalised thing, and i am sure that each individual will have different reasons for doing so. The key for society and the community is to try and do everything in our power to give young people the support and avenues to discuss their problems more freely.
I do think the rise of the internet is a factor in terms of how young people now choose to express themselves. I spent my whole teenage years with the internet present, and there is a lack of face to face contact involved. I wouldnt be as bold to pre judge that to mean that young people find it harder to express their feelings as such, but it is important we do not lose the ability to communicate face to face when dealing with problems, or through organisations such as the samaritans.
Speak to Tim!
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