The news today that 16 year old Jenna Parry had become the 18th teenager to commit suicide in the Bridgend area in less than 12 months will no doubt produce another round of less than helpful speculation from the press about there being a "link".
Such tragedy however produces not just incomprehension but also as sense of helplessness - and yet that there is much that any concerned person can do to respond.
Firstly plan ahead - there is at last to be a task force funded by the Welsh Assembly and covering the South Wales valleys which will co-ordinate the different agencies and offer practical support to young people in the area - has your local authority got similar plans in hand or it will it wait until a similar "crisis" arises in your area?
Donate to work in this vitally important area, particularly the work of Papyrus the national Charity which is the only specialist agency focused on youth and young adult suicides - details here
Talk openly in your church, school, community, family about the reality of youth and young adult suicides - it happens daily to ordinary folk and families - and the biggest barrier to tackling the situations involved are ignorance, fear of discussion, and sadly in the churches the strange idea that somehow we are responsible.Only such openness will get this matter out of the headlines and into our daily awareness.
Comments