http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=514778&in_page_id=1770

"The death toll in a small town hit by a spate of suicides rose to 16 yesterday when two young cousins were found hanged. They died hours apart, leaving the South Wales community of Bridgend reeling from the continuing string of tragedies.

All 16 victims, who were under the age of 26 and from Bridgend, hanged themselves in the suicide spate which started in January 2007.

The full death register is now Dale Crole, 18, David Dilling, 19, Thomas Davies, 20, Zachary Barnes, 17, Gareth Morgan, 27, James Knight, 26, Jason Williams, 21, Andrew O'Neill, 19, Leigh Jenkins, 22, Liam Clarke, 20, Alan Price, 21, Luke Goodridge, 20, Natasha Randall, 17, Angie Fuller, 18, Kelly Stephenson, 20, and Nathaniel Pritchard, 15."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=514778&in_page_id=1770

"The death toll in a small town hit by a spate of suicides rose to 16 yesterday when two young cousins were found hanged. They died hours apart, leaving the South Wales community of Bridgend reeling from the continuing string of tragedies.

All 16 victims, who were under the age of 26 and from Bridgend, hanged themselves in the suicide spate which started in January 2007.

The full death register is now Dale Crole, 18, David Dilling, 19, Thomas Davies, 20, Zachary Barnes, 17, Gareth Morgan, 27, James Knight, 26, Jason Williams, 21, Andrew O'Neill, 19, Leigh Jenkins, 22, Liam Clarke, 20, Alan Price, 21, Luke Goodridge, 20, Natasha Randall, 17, Angie Fuller, 18, Kelly Stephenson, 20, and Nathaniel Pritchard, 15."


OMG!! i spent many hours there while i was growing up! and i also spenttime there last september! (seeing my aunty)

Ah, the so called 'BeBo Death Cult', ... there were concerns that these kids had used the social networking site to organise a death pact.

Still it will make getting employed in the area easier for the non-loons.

Maybe it will spread to London. :eek:

Ah, the so called 'BeBo Death Cult', ... there were concerns that these kids had used the social networking site to organise a death pact.

Still it will make getting employed in the area easier for the non-loons.


yeah and so would all the english leaving wales aswell.

You would think that after let's say 5-7 cases the city would get a clue...

You would think that after let's say 5-7 cases the city would get a clue...

what clue?

unless you know what is going through the mind of kids then you have no clue!

A clue that something is going on. They eventually got it, but looks like their effort is not working...

A clue that something is going on. They eventually got it, but looks like their effort is not working...

well, people like to go on these suicide web pages and chat forums, and those people there openly say yes go and kill yourself no one will miss you

yeah and so would all the english leaving wales aswell.

Oooh, nationalism?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7252732.stm

Another one bites the dust.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7252732.stm

Another one bites the dust.

perhaps they should be looking at all these suicide web sites! ok Bridgend isnt hollywood, but its a nice place and not depressing.

Now there is a new expression: serial suicede...

perhaps they should be looking at all these suicide web sites! ok Bridgend isnt hollywood, but its a nice place and not depressing.

First question would be is 18 people in little over a year above average for it's population size? If so then why is it localised to this one place? Surely suicide websites don't take location into account.:shrug:

Now there is a new expression: serial suicede...

some of the kids:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2008/02/16/nsuicide116.jpg

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2008/02/15/ncult106.jpg

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/02_02/CameronMcWilliamsRP_468x460.jpg

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/graphics/2008/01/24/ftsuicide350.jpg

http://estb.msn.com/i/88/4F72DBC2C6E2D38EF49E6EB9887.jpg

i just hope whatever made these sad young people do this will be sorted and not effect other kids!

First question would be is 18 people in little over a year above average for it's population size?

Obviously not, thus the thread. The UK rate is 18 per 100K, the town's size is 40K. So it is about 2.5 times the average...

Actually more, because the 18/100K rate is all ages, and these 18 were under 26....So probably about 5 times average or even more...

It's scary to think that these children might know what they are doing. I am sure that the explanation will come out in the third or fourth season of Torchwood.

At least I don't see Blaidd Drwg anywhere.

Obviously not, thus the thread. The UK rate is 18 per 100K, the town's size is 40K. So it is about 2.5 times the average...

Actually more, because the 18/100K rate is all ages, and these 18 were under 26....So probably about 5 times average or even more...

Well I'd pretty much guessed that answer, so now someone needs to come up with an answer to part 2; Why this localised area? What is it about the culture here that makes people commit suicide? Is it a domino effect because there's an undiscovered link between them? A cult? Genetic mental impairment perhaps?

one thing is clear though : both the police's assertion that there's no connection between the cases and the blaming of the media for somehow making suicides "cool" sounds hollow

I can see a movie in the making. I simply can't believe that this is all coincidence...

I can see a movie in the making. I simply can't believe that this is all coincidence...

no, neither can i, like i said already they need to be lookinf and checking what these kids have been doing over the internet, all those "suicide" web pages and chat rooms.

Parents attack suicides coverage

Nathaniel's parents said reports of his death made it unbearable
Media coverage of a spate of suicides around Bridgend could trigger more deaths, the parents of a boy who apparently killed himself have said.
Vincent and Sharon Pritchard, whose son Nathaniel, 15, died in hospital on Friday, said reports "glamorised" ways of taking one's life to young people.

Local MP Madeleine Moon said the media were "now part of the problem".

Since September 2006, 21 young people have apparently killed themselves around Bridgend, the latest on Tuesday.

The body of 16-year-old Jenna Parry was found on common land in the village of Cefn Cribwr, five miles from Bridgend town.

'Unbearable'

Mr and Mrs Pritchard addressed a press conference at South Wales Police headquarters on Tuesday which dealt with the results of a review by police into suicides by young people in the area.

Mrs Pritchard said: "We have lost our son and the media reporting of this has made it more unbearable.


What is the link since Natasha Randall's death? It is you, the media

Asst Chief Constable David Morris

"We feel the media coverage could trigger other people who are already feeling low to take their own lives.

"We feel that Nathaniel might have thought it was a way of getting attention without fully thinking through the consequences."

Asst Chief Constable David Morris said the review had covered the deaths of 17 young people including Natasha Randall, 17, in January, whose death pushed the issue of suicides in the Bridgend area into the media spotlight.

Four more young people have died since.

Holding examples of stories from the tabloid press, he urged reporters to think about how they may be influencing young people.


The Pritchards at the press conference

"What is the link since Natasha Randall's death? It is you, the media," he said.

While stressing a "constellation of factors" appeared to have prompted the youngsters to take their lives individually, including relationship break-ups to problems with family and friends, he said they were vulnerable to influences.

"Taking one's own life may be becoming an acceptable option to young people for issues that they are facing.

"We are speaking to young people in Bridgend and what we are getting from them is that the media is starting to contribute to their thoughts in terms of how they feel, pressures they are under and Bridgend becoming stigmatised through the media," he said.

Ms Moon, who has been involved with working on suicide prevention strategies since last summer, told the press conference: "You come asking what was the problem in Bridgend - you are now part of the problem."

However, a letter from Health Minister Edwina Hart said all assembly members noted Welsh media outlets had worked with the assembly government and local services "in taking a responsible approach" to the coverage.

Ms Hart added she hoped the national media would follow their lead.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7253788.stm

as i've said before, i don't buy it
suicides are often items in the local press - the national press only got involved when a clear cluster had already formed

just because the police are too stupid to find a link
a bit like blaming the ref when your football team has lost

as i've said before, i don't buy it
suicides are often items in the local press - the national press only got involved when a clear cluster had already formed

just because the police are too stupid to find a link
a bit like blaming the ref when your football team has lost

actually, i "think" the press are getting invovled because hardly anything happens in Bridgend and it is a peacefull place. So perhaps theya re schocked!

actually, i "think" the press are getting invovled because hardly anything happens in Bridgend and it is a peacefull place. So perhaps theya re schocked!


Well, it is odd for such a small, quiet place, so I think it's right that it is being reported. I really don't buy into the accusation that press coverage will make more teenagers contemplate suicide. When a friend of mine hanged himself, my first thought was 'what a twat', not 'Oh, I must go kill myself too'.

A cluster like this needs some investigation. Where's Mulder and Scully?

Well, it is odd for such a small, quiet place, so I think it's right that it is being reported. I really don't buy into the accusation that press coverage will make more teenagers contemplate suicide. When a friend of mine hanged himself, my first thought was 'what a twat', not 'Oh, I must go kill myself too'.

A cluster like this needs some investigation. Where's Mulder and Scully?


i didnt say that i agree with what the perents are saying, i just said that, it's not normal for such a nice, quite, place like bridgend!

i dont understand why these kids killed themselves i wish i did, but perhaps like i have already said twice, they should look at what these kids have been looking at on the internet, with all these suicide web pages, they even suggest that you kill yourselve.

perhaps a few of them killed themselves because mummy and daddy wouldn't buy them the newest pair of shoes, who knows?

A cluster like this needs some investigation.

absolutely - it's no good failing (or not even attempting) to get to the bottom of it and go for the knee-jerk reaction of blaming the messenger

even if this dies down eventually without us finding out what caused it, remember the dictum of programming : if a problem disappears for no apparent reason, it will at some point reappear for no apparent reason

I wonder if they went to the same schools. There was a teacher in my school that molested a bunch of kids and later they suffered a lot of damage upstairs.
But Instead of jailing him and taking his liscence they just sent him away to teach somewhere else.
My kids will never go to public school with all the shooting and such.
On that, we can be happy these kids in the UK aren't taking anyone with them when the crack.

no, neither can i, like i said already they need to be lookinf and checking what these kids have been doing over the internet, all those "suicide" web pages and chat rooms.

But if that were the cause there must still be an underlying reason why they've all ventured onto them.

But if that were the cause there must still be an underlying reason why they've all ventured onto them.

perhaps mummy and daddy wouldn't buy them the new fashionable shoes, or perhaps they were laying down the law about being idiots

I wonder if they went to the same schools. There was a teacher in my school that molested a bunch of kids and later they suffered a lot of damage upstairs.
But Instead of jailing him and taking his liscence they just sent him away to teach somewhere else.
My kids will never go to public school with all the shooting and such.
On that, we can be happy these kids in the UK aren't taking anyone with them when the crack.


not everyone has the ability to send kids to private schools

not everyone has the ability to send kids to private schools

Homeschooling is making a surge in the USA for obvious reasons and now, the universities are finding these kids very desirable having not been in the "peer pressure cooker" for 12 years. They are far less controlled by their insecurities and the effects of the "mob" mentality.

Also, how many of these tweens were on "anti-psychotic" meds?

Homeschooling is making a surge in the USA for obvious reasons and now, the universities are finding these kids very desirable having not been in the "peer pressure cooker" for 12 years. They are far less controlled by their insecurities and the effects of the "mob" mentality.

Also, how many of these tweens were on "anti-psychotic" meds?

home schooling is somthing that can't happen very often in the UK, the PWO pupil well fare officer will cause all sortsof shit for you, and they will only givew your child about 3 hours a week home schooling, (i know beause it was somthing i looked into)

Yes, that's how some libs would like it here. They'll claim your child and hold YOU responsible for the negative outcome. NO THANKS!
It's really no wonder these kids are going mad, they are conditioned to have no scruples.

Yes, that's how some libs would like it here. They'll claim your child and hold YOU responsible for the negative outcome. NO THANKS!
It's really no wonder these kids are going mad, they are conditioned to have no scruples.


well they dont have to have any the police are scared, we have community police now because the police are short staffed because people are afraid to becomme a copper because they know they will get all sorts of shit from people.

if they act according to the law they get it in the neck if they dont act according to the law they still get it in the neck, they can't win.

personally i think the police are an evil nessecity

perhaps mummy and daddy wouldn't buy them the new fashionable shoes, or perhaps they were laying down the law about being idiots
Well they are all young-ish but not all teens, so mummy and daddy probably don't have that much to do with it, and as far as I'm aware teens not getting what they want happens regularly across the country and rarely results in suicide.

Can I ask if you're really interested in answers or have you already jumped to a conclusion that suits you and are now back on the bandwagon of complaining about those apparently 'deplorable teens that are ruining your country'? It seems to me you dislike the young intensely, and have distinctly forgotten that everyone is young once, and every generation has their cliques, their problems, their truants, their trouble makers and vagrants, and the few members who turn out fine.
I wouldn't worry too much however, as like every generation before yours and one can only assume all future ones, they all eventually reach this stage of how things were different and better in their day and how the young of this day are ruining the world we live in; so all this really means is that you're getting old.:p

mind you, Bridgend is a bit of a dump of a place + too little to be interesting, too big for community spirit

If they all knew each other, perhaps there was an initial suicide pact resulting in the first few suicides, and those deaths made the others depressed at losing their friends, thus they killed themselves.

I can't really speculate, but if they do turn out to have sued bebo or myspace or facebook, rest assured that the media (and possible the police) will lay the blame at the feet of those websites, not the parents, or the things they were complaining about on the site.

mind you, Bridgend is a bit of a dump of a place + too little to be interesting, too big for community spirit

it fucking well is not! (sorry about the swearing) it is a great place to live, i loved it there, and i would go and live there tomorrow if i could!

Well they are all young-ish but not all teens, so mummy and daddy probably don't have that much to do with it, and as far as I'm aware teens not getting what they want happens regularly across the country and rarely results in suicide.

Can I ask if you're really interested in answers or have you already jumped to a conclusion that suits you and are now back on the bandwagon of complaining about those apparently 'deplorable teens that are ruining your country'? It seems to me you dislike the young intensely, and have distinctly forgotten that everyone is young once, and every generation has their cliques, their problems, their truants, their trouble makers and vagrants, and the few members who turn out fine.
I wouldn't worry too much however, as like every generation before yours and one can only assume all future ones, they all eventually reach this stage of how things were different and better in their day and how the young of this day are ruining the world we live in; so all this really means is that you're getting old.:p

actauly yeah we were all young once, but i didn't go out, stealing, throwing abuse at people, and in some cases killing people.

i don't hate the young intensly, i have 3 kids of my own, 2 of which are teenagers, i just hate the ones who go out and have no morals. They are what's wrong with this country.

Losers winning big on the lottery
Rehab rejects still sniffing glue
Constant refutation with myself
I'm a vicitm of a catch 22

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=514719&in_page_id=1770

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/01/27/ngang127.xml

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/teenager-admits-gang-murder-401515.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/aug/24/ukcrime.ukguns1

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7245773.stm

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/156/156875_teenage_gang_murder_fifth_arrest.html

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1304867,00.html

http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/tm_headline=gang-murder-four-walk-free&method=full&objectid=20436826&siteid=50100-name_page.html

and you wander why i have a problem with teenagers! oh let's see i wander why?

pls let's not generalise
not all teenagers fall in the category that make the news for all the wrong reasons

no, neither can i, like i said already they need to be lookinf and checking what these kids have been doing over the internet, all those "suicide" web pages and chat rooms.

The scary thing about all this is that you would be surprised what becomes acceptable when others around you are doing it. For example, people involved heavily into drug culture actually perceive how they are living as normal.

There is a whole sub culture that is far from normal lifestyle yet when you are around these people long enough it really seems normal and becomes impossible to differentiate otherwise. Drug addicts lose touch with reality, and being around other people who are doing the same thing just blurs the line further. Even if this is only indirectly related to the OP i feel that it was worth mentioning.

Though i cannot see how this can ever be viewed as normal. It is just one night, one day, one week. If you can get through it you will be glad you did. The way i see life is that it is too short.

pls let's not generalise
not all teenagers fall in the category that make the news for all the wrong reasons

you are right, i know not all teenagers are bad, but there seems to be a fair number of them who are just wasters!

i am a victim of crime on more than one accassion comitted by teenagers! so it's not so easy for me to see good in all teens

actauly yeah we were all young once, but i didn't go out, stealing, throwing abuse at people, and in some cases killing people.
You may not have, and there are one's in this generation who also do not do such things. As with every previous generation there are those who do, and those who don't, the discussion of how the current generation is worse than the previous comes up with every passing generation, a repeated cycle.
I recall you advocate national service for all youngsters based on what these few do. Have you forgotten the mods and rockers? The skinheads? Punks? I feel compelled to point out that there will always be youth culture, there will always be trouble, rebellion, revolution, and sticking it to the man, it's the very point of what they do. It just takes time for the individuals to grow out of it, and yes some of them never will.

i don't hate the young intensly, i have 3 kids of my own, 2 of which are teenagers, i just hate the ones who go out and have no morals. They are what's wrong with this country.
They are also the one's that make the headlines, the words 'violent clash' make a better news story for the bloodthirsty masses than 'boy saves swan', wouldn't you agree? When your kids reach your age they'll be saying the same things you do about the youngsters they have to deal with.:itold:

You may not have, and there are one's in this generation who also do not do such things. As with every previous generation there are those who do, and those who don't, the discussion of how the current generation is worse than the previous comes up with every passing generation, a repeated cycle.
I recall you advocate national service for all youngsters based on what these few do. Have you forgotten the mods and rockers? The skinheads? Punks? I feel compelled to point out that there will always be youth culture, there will always be trouble, rebellion, revolution, and sticking it to the man, it's the very point of what they do. It just takes time for the individuals to grow out of it, and yes some of them never will.


They are also the one's that make the headlines, the words 'violent clash' make a better news story for the bloodthirsty masses than 'boy saves swan', wouldn't you agree? When your kids reach your age they'll be saying the same things you do about the youngsters they have to deal with.:itold:


yes because the way things are right now nothing will change when my kids are older.

and national service will teach kids a way of life, and i also said, that if when the time comes for kids to leave school, they do not have a job, univeristy or college then national service seems a good idea, and i will say now, yes if i ahd my way my kids will go in the army, but because of PC nonesense we are not allowed to force these children to do things they dont want to. And its wrong, it goes all the way down to the failing perents,

kids can blame the mum and dad's all they like, but in the end the blame is on them.

read my lips : national service is not a good preparation for life - i should know, been there done that, didn't even get a bloody t-shirt

also have a look at many of the ex-servicemen : many can't adjust to civilian life

looking on the bright side : how long do you think we would have stayed in Iraq or Afghanistan if it was your conscripted son that had to risk his life for the glory of the nation ?

yes because the way things are right now nothing will change when my kids are older.
I can see I'm not going to get through to you as you've already made your mind up.
and national service will teach kids a way of life,
One they might not want, and again you're directing this at kids because of your own personal hatred of a few of them.
and i also said, that if when the time comes for kids to leave school, they do not have a job, univeristy or college then national service seems a good idea,
They'll be adults by then, so evidently it's not your problem with kids you're addressing. Being 18 makes them free as adults to make the same choice about not signing up as you do. They also answer to the same laws you would if you commit a crime.
and i will say now, yes if i ahd my way my kids will go in the army, but because of PC nonesense we are not allowed to force these children to do things they dont want to. And its wrong, it goes all the way down to the failing perents,
It comes down to something called human rights, you're free not to be forced into the military yourself, as are all other adults. Forcing children into it would be unethical, just like forcing them to work.
Conscripts make bad soldiers, worse peacekeepers, are disobedient, develop a hatred for those in charge, are revolutionary and armed, not to mention they cost a lot of money for virtually no return. To add to that the breach of human rights in how these adults would be treated, especially solely because of their age, well, lets just be thankful it'll never happen, the social behaviour of the military is bad enough as it is, and that's the volunteers!
kids can blame the mum and dad's all they like, but in the end the blame is on them.
Well at least you got something right, although sometimes the parents can be at fault, the law should punish the youths once they're old enough to understand their actions.