i think they should nock it all dwn as it is a disscrace and peolpe already new something wierd was going on there they should of done something sooner as 17 victims are dead of wat a very stange village

eleanor, manchester, england

I suspect that this spate of suicides among teenagers has very little to do with the secularisation of modern society. Suicide was much more common in the medieval period, a time when religious observance was strictly enforced by the church and state, than it is today.

Neither is it the result of "exam pressure" which is undeniably a source of anxiety for young people but which is hardly a new phenomenon.

Unfortunately, I strongly suspect that this new cult of suicide is simply an arbitrary trend which has sprung up in one particular area merely as a device for seeking attention and recognition among an immediate peer group. Tragically, these young people appear to be convinced that suicide has become "cool" and a certain route to national notoriety. A number of attempts were doubtless conceived as a "cry for help" which ended up going too far.

My concern is for the loved ones left behind. As the old saying goes, "When you choose suicide, first you must dig two graves."

Richard, London,

Laura Roberts wrote:
"We may be in agreement about one thing: our children are growing up without values and morality, with positively deranged views at times. But religion is not the answer."

When you honestly look at the meaning of life (from a secular world-view) it is very depressing:
- there is no ultimate value to it (apart from 'what you make it' - otherwise known as 'make-believe')
- life, death, joy, suffering, murder, peace have no intrinsic moral value. We have evolved to believe that murder is bad and peace is good, but its only our synaptic responses that guide us. Just a product of faceless evolution.
- our time on this earth ultimately means nothing. We're here, then we die.

Sadly, I think these kids saw this reality (which most adults aren't honest enough to face, but would unconsciously affirm).

Secularism has no solution, apart from to suppress honest acceptance of the pointlessness of life.

Religion is the only answer, because there are no other answers.

Toby, UK,

Considering Bridgend and the surrounding area where the suicides came from there is nothing odd about this random clustering of suicides. There is no 'epidemic'. Still, lets not let that get in the way of a nice bit of media hysteria.

julia, london,

I am British but at the moment live in the USA, I have watched over the past 23 years my Country (Britain) go downhill at an ever increasing speed, driven it seems by the people who were elected to oversee our British way of life, we had decency and morals, we cared for one another, now , our Government seems to be giving asylum to anyone who knocks on our door, they are allowing in people who mean to harm us and wish to destroy our way of life, we seem to be giving more aid to the 'foreigners' (who mostly came for a free ride) than to our own people.

No wonder our young people see no hope for the future, going the way we are there won't be any unless the erosion is stopped now!

Barb Miller, Newcastle, UK

This is a tragedy for your country, here in Australia we had areas with a similar trend a few years ago and investigations found a link between the reporting of these suicides and an increase in the copycat suicides. A pact was agreed to between the media and other agencies that youth suicides would not be reported in the media. Once this was in place the number of suicides apparently dropped significantly. My son is a youth worker and he said many teenagers don't fully grip that when you die, that's it, stories over. They think that they will somehow be a spectator to all of the fallout, grief, funeral etc. By all means authorities must look at why these kids see no hope, but stop putting these stories into the public arena otherwise more impressionable young people may think this is a way to fame.

Mallet, Gippsland, Australia

The sad truth is that Britain is a miserable place to be for many young people . Things will get worse unless something is done to improve the quality of life for ordinary people and especially the young . Absolute tragedy . But most people are just obsessed with their house prices and the I'm all right jack attitude does little for this country and the millions that are struggling just to get by . Somewhere along the line this nation has lost the plot and the young are on the receiving end , as always .

God has nothing to do with it .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

Young people today are bombarded via school and the media with the message that 'our planet is dying' and with grim worst case scenarios with regard to global warming. I have raised this issue recently with my son's head teacher. I feel strongly that the way this issue is handled could be a cause for anxiety and could trigger depression in children who might be vulnerable.

Jackie, Windsor, UK

We live in times where there is not always enough warmth and loving between parents and their children. Consequently they feel that their teenage problems have to be suffered all alone, without the ready urge to share with Mummie or Daddy. Children ought to be counselled about the awful pain that they, by suiciding, might inflict on their families and friends.
So, there is an absolute need to try to come close to vulnerable and, perhaps, lonely children. Love and support.

Alan Sparke, St Rémy, France

due diligence to eliminate possibility of a serial killer?

DanO, Mount Vernon, USA

As someone who has coped with 2 suicides and 1 near suicide in my family, I honestly don't think religion has anything to do with this matter.
These young adults need counselling on a massive scale, non-judgmental, non- religious etc.
In my village, we had 4 suicides in a week & immediatley, services were brought in to all schools to explain that this is not the answer, it is not the final option. Most things can be changed, most things can get better eventually.
I just hope that authorites get in there before it's someone else's child, brother, sister etc.

Julie, Somerset, UK

If a parent or teacher believes their child or student is
thinking of suicide, they must confront the issue with the
young person calmly and directly. If they can't get to the
motivation, they can extract a promise, even in writing,
that the youth will not act before contacting someone,
so they can be persuaded out of an irreversible act
of self-destruction. This is especially true of boys. When
they mention suicide, they should be taken deadly
seriously but with a cool and calm head. It helps.
Personal connection is a key to prevention.

Marion Shaw, Black Mountain, United STates

Brigend, like many other small villages in the valleys seems to lack any facilities for young people.
It may be worth the local council addressing what social facilities they can introduce for the community, if there is nothing to do in the evenings, young people find their own way of how they can interact which will include msn and surfing the internet for sites of interest.
In a small, bored community it does not take long for young people to delve into other ways of escaping what could be seen as a mundane existance, usually experimenting in drugs, alcohol and risk taking behaviour which may well include self harm and attepmts at taking ones life. it's almost as if it has become the 'new self harm' - their experimentation and lack of knowledge and their inability to truly understand the dangers can be disasterous. All young people need a sense of belonging- often they get this by becoming part of a gang or by mirroring the behaviours of other young people.

Child Therapist

sharon, Nottingham, UK

Oh by the way, when I say in my earlier comment that you pray to yourself for others and others pray for you, I mean exactly that ! In the other words, you pray to yourself , literally means to convince yourself and noone else, no other religion, or god or whoever else. Simply convince yourself that you want to give to others and not take from others or more importantly take anything away from yourself ! And remember, others include your parents, family, friends, your loved ones and the whole human world ! Everyone is doing everything for everyone else and not just for themselves ! We do it for each other and this gives us some nice feeling and worth and that eventual majic feeling ! I don't mean to offend any religion, but the closest way you will reach any of your gods will be through your fellow human being who has the capacity in themselves to help each other ! Long live mankind by helping themselves and each other and God can be a bystander if he so wishes !

DKP, London, United Kingdom

I don't know the answers and believe there are probably several reasons why these young people have chosen to commit suicide. I'd be more inclined to believe that it is how citizens feel that a society values them (or not). Our society only values economic output and those deemed as failures have a long poor existence ahead of them.
Believing in god won't alter this, better economic and social policies might!

Tel, Aylesbury, UK

why has it taken the death of 17 young people to get the authorities (not just the Police) to realise there is a problem??

Jon, London,

these measures and more should of been taken much earlier ,we now live in a society that labels kids from the moment they are born we are becoming on of the most child hating nations on earth i think it's time for us all being lead by the government to wipe the slate clean and start again give these kids reasons to live instead of sending people to iraq we are all to eager to help anyone else !!!! it's time to sit up and look after our own give them things to do ,give them a life instead of letting thousands of imigrants in give britains kids something worth living for ....................get in there now and help these youngsters don't let anymore down!!!!!!!!!

linda fennell, birmingham, england

I would like to ask all these people who have commented that " Religion won't help"
How do they know that? Try everything possible and it might save some of them from doing the same thing.

Robbie McAndrew, Marford, Wrexham

Suicide pest


It is really sad that young people end their promising lifes
this way.
Suicidefeelings are contagious, just like anorexie or bulimia.
Children should be taught how to fight Death in their hearts.

The U.K.has the perfect teacher to do this; John Bunyan.His book, The Holy War ,explains how dark powers overcome
our soul and make people long for what they should hate.
Where are the ghostbusters to fight the suicidedemons in
Bridgend? Pauline Rombout,Breda,The Netherlands

pauline, breda, The Netherlands

"god", all caring? purpose for everyone? nah! get real!. was that their purpose? to kill themselves? if not why didn't good ol' god save them?

ohhhh yes, i forgot., it was satans fault!!!

so now that we all know the answer i guess that this discussion is over....

bob, glos, UK

A Bridge to the End in Wales ............. It is bizarre but perhaps highly relevant that they all chose hanging even though there are other methods for reaching the afterlife.

Tamara, Coventry,

The trajedy is that these young people see no other way out or way of dealing with whatever issues it is that they face.
Where are the support networks, ie/ family, school counsellors.
I am the single mother of 2 adult sons both still at home and who sadly face problems such as unemployment, learning disabilities, relationship issues on a daily basis. For one son suicide has at times I'm sure seemed like the only option but as a close supportive family both immediate & extended, facing this and being aware of it on a daily basis doesn't remove the fear of it for me as a parent but does allow it to be something talked about with no fear for them of feeling inadequate or failing in life.

Sue , Middlesbrough,

Only people who have been suicidal know and understand what it is like....

people can talk science and religion all they like, it's different when you are really there

DF, Norwich, UK

There is something fundamentally wrong in this location which is causing these young people so much distress as to view the taking of their lives as an acceptable escape mechanism.
Hanging oneself is no easy task and there is no going back once the deed is committed, so there can be no question of a cry for help phenomenom.
We need to flood the place with proven psychiatrists and psycho-analysts, every school, every youth club, every community centre. Including Church Organisations (Salvation Army) and Social Services.
Overall we need to ask the young people directly, "what in their view is going on here", and get to the bottom of this appalling situation.
If considered warranted the Government should impose a media ban on further reporting or news exploitation of events.
Forget the sympathy and condolence to grieving parents routine, this is now out of all proportion and needs to be dealt with using proper governmental authority, and assessment by proffessional staff.

William, Preston, Lancashire

When you have THAT MANY so called "SUICIDES", should the authorities suspect it might be a serial killer or it an actual murder staged as a suicide?? Duh??? Haven't you heard of copycats or the staging of copycats? It's Criminology 101!

Jack, Oakland, CA / USA

Religion is not the answer, because religion is about prescribed rules and ritual. However, faith is not religion. Solving grief and depression is so much more complex than reminding people they are better off than others in the world or that everything's all fine.
The Christian message is that we all fall short of God, that He is perfection, that we can't ever hope to lead the perfect life He did in Christ, but that in his love He sent a saviour for us that takes our place when we deserve punishment and death. There's nothing woolly and fluffy about it.
Faith is the answer, because it preaches hope when all else is lost. The Christian faith is about love and life, not death. If any young people anywhere feel doomed or tempted to self-destruct, the answer's there any Alpha course - http://uk.alpha.org

Jimblansh, London, UK

Forget the religious debate, shouldn't we be talking about the family nucleus?
So often now, families don't sit sown together at a table over dinner and discuss what's been happening in the day. There is no time put aside for starting conversations to discover if a family member is feeling a bit 'off colour' or is actually depressed.
Depression is easy to hide and to admit to; unless people make a concerted effort to properly communicate on a daily basis, how do you know when something is wrong?

This may not be the case for Jenna and her family and my heart goes out to them; this is just a thought that may make a difference to another child in need of support.

Sam, Bridgend, UK

Sam , Bridgend,

Further to CS, Haywards Heath, UK

I agree there must be a common factor - more likely to make these kids more depressed.. radiation or some other kind of poison which specifically is affecting the children and their state of mind.

How many adult suicides have there been in the area during the same time period?

Tom, Douglas, Isle of Man

How unwelcome it is to see Christian propagandists taking advantage of such a sad series of events in Bridgend. I am sure that the rest of us simply wish to pass on our heartfelt condolences to the parents, families and friends of those troubled young people; and our thanks to the dedicated people who are doing their best to help.

Brian Champness, Callington, Cornwall

Morris, and the deceased's family, also stated that the most obvious link between the suicides was the intense media coverage of them, which he believed was encouraging local children to see suicide as a way of drawing attention. Interesting that this was omitted from your report.

Steve, Milton Keynes,

Toby, UK wrote "We gave them their logic. If their life seems meaningless and not worth living, then what's the logical conclusion."

Well, if that's the case I wish the young criminals ruining the lives of the rest of us, kicking and stomping to death anyone who tells them to stop it, stealing, mugging, raping, vandalising and destroying our society, whose lives are really meaningless and not worth living, would do us all a favour and follow this logic!

nb, London, UK

Contrary to Toby's assessment that "The real truth is: Life is sacred. God created it"

If children were taught that you are:

1) The ONE success among millions of sperm from your father competing for your mother's egg, the result of your parents love and affection of each other.

2) The ONLY creature evolved a brain with the mind to ask "who am I, where did I come from, why am I here".

3) Privileged to be witness to and live through a time that is the accumulation of thousands of years of human scientific exploration and inquiry, in spite of religious distraction, that is at the dawn of providing the REAL answers to these questions.

In summary, it's a wonderful life and time to live through, don't waste it.

Unfortunately, its little comfort to the deeply tragic situation that the parents of the child find themselves in and my heart goes out to them.

manoj, abu dhabi, UAE

What do you expect when you take God (Hope) out of our schools!

Jonathan, Rhondda, Wales, UK

To be fair, I don't think religion is the answer. Especially in retrospect as their 'souls' burn in your Christian Hell...

These kids probably were very sensitive and in tune with what's going on in the world. It's inate cruelty and hypocrisy shines far brighter than any of the good and positive things which occur around the world.

Even the fact that this newspaper (which I quite respect)chooses to focus on this story, rather than the wealth of amazingly positive things that have been going on in the last few days. This world, and this country is full of negativity, comparison and jealously. Consumer aspiration and contempt. Is it any wonder.

It's made me think about it more that once... it's just a true shame they didn't have something to convince them to stop.. convince them that it could be better.

Ed, London, UK

Ask this question, why Bridgend?, why not Cardiff, Swansea, Liverpool, Coventry, Glasgow? and it takes 17 before the authorities admit there's a problem!

Barry , Hull, England

To have people citing religion as the only possible 'solution' to these problems is at best short-sighted, and at worst insulting to billions of people throughout the world who are non-religious but still believe that life is worth living no matter how bad it may seem at a particular time.
Pedaling religion to children struggling with a range of personal and social issues is not going to help in the majority of cases. What we should be doing is trying to find the real root of the problem, and no evidence suggests that is down to a lack of faith.

Mike, Manchester, UK

Has anybody thought to check the water supply, the local drug scene or even the school canteen for sources of possible chemical or mineral poisoning (or deficiency) in these young people? It may sound a bit far-fetched, but its not impossible that it could be a physical - rather than a psychological - factor which is affecting these kids' mental states.

CS, Haywards Heath, UK

@ R. Davar - Patronising them isn't going to help them out of dispair. It could be that the problem is loss of innocence - by that I mean that the accessibility of modern media thrusts the apparent futility of the real World onto our children before they are ready for it.

PaulK, Thornton,

"for I am fearfully and wonderfully made"(Psalm 139:14) ... perhaps thats the message that we ought to be telling our kids - that they are loved by majesty; that in our weakness - he is our strength; that he has a plan to use you for his glory & that he will pour out the riches of heaven upon you - if you only ask.... we teach our kids that we 'came from animals', that one race is better than another; that first prize is all that matters - its no wonder that they are confused & feel helpless.

Justin Dallas, Durban, South Africa

Who would like to join me in congratulating Assistant Chief Constable David Morris is finally deciding a pattern can be formed on these recents deaths and action must now be taken. Sadly no matter how hard you slam the stable door, 17 youngs horses have already bolted.

Jake, London,

Will you people get over your self's there is no such thing as god, I love the way you bring your hate filled messages of love to the table.

Only god's love can save you, thats like saying have and imaginrey best friend, after all god is so loving, providing your exactley the same as every one else other wise god demands you be put to death at once.

O an not a quick death you have to be stoned or left to die for hours on a cross or burnt alive or scard with acid, that is the truth of your god hate a fear of any thing diffrent.

Mr W Jones, Liverpool,

The real truth is: Life is sacred. God created it.
Toby, UK,

Toby, UK - Let me help you out with the two words you, in the enthusiasm of a foggy Wednesday morning, forgot to add to the front of your post and all the way through: "I believe".

You believe our society preaches these "truths" that you have made up in your own head, for your own reasons. Perhaps fabricating them is your purpose in life?

Your premise, taking away all the religious blah, is that these children committed suicide because they felt their life was meaningless. What evidence do you have for this? Do you know what was in their minds? Maybe, with all the purpose and meaning in the world, they simply wanted out. You believe it is not their right to do that. That is a stance that you have consciously decided to take, that's all.

We may be in agreement about one thing: our children are growing up without values and morality, with positively deranged views at times. But religion is not the answer.

Laura Roberts, London, UK

How insightful Mr Davar, when someone is feeling so low as to take their own life - remind them how cruel the world is.

Elizabeth, Manchester,

All these people going on about god - Do you really think some depressed kid in the middle of some backwater really cares that you believe some mystical spirit is in fact watching them suffer and won't actually do anything to help them in their life?

"Who is god? well, you know when you really want something, and you really pray and pray for it? god is the person who ignores you"

The police have been bigoted in not recognizing this earlier. 17 people dead and only now they start to change their tune. I wonder how many more people will eventually have to die before people understand this is an issue.

dave k, poole,

Children of Wales and children of the world are all one ! The moment you were born, your unbillical cord was cut to give you the freedon to move in this world more freely ! From then onwards your presence and your arrival is a kind of majic to this whole world. You arrived to give something to this world and others arrived to give something to you. You never take something from others, nor something from yourselves ! In times of trouble you pray to yourself for others and others pray for you. You never pray for yourself as others are already doing this for you ! Aftre fighting every problem, you get used to fighting forever and you sense this majic of you giving to others and others giving to you ! This is true majic - you have to live to experience it !! You were the past, you are the current and you will be the magic of the future !!

DKP, London, United Kingdom

Our secular society preaches the following 'truths':

- there is no ultimate purpose to life: life has no real meaning
- life is worth living only if it is useful and 'good': if life is not worth living then death is the answer (abortion and the desire for legalised euthanasia demonstrate this belief)
- suicide is the answer to suffering: read the endless headlines fighting for the rights of terminally ill people to kill themselves.

So why are we perplexed when our kids kill themselves? We gave them their logic. If their life seems meaningless and not worth living, then what's the logical conclusion.

In a Christianised nation it's easy to claim to live by secular principles whilst actually being influenced by centuries of Christian morality.

Our kids are growing up with little of that heritage - living by very purely secular morality. We've stripped away hope, meaning and sanctity of life. And this is the result.

The real truth is: Life is sacred. God created it.

Toby, UK,

These children should be made aware that no matter how bad they think their situation is, there are millions of underpriviledged and destitute children in the third world facing worse odds in life, not knowing where their next meal will come from, not knowing whether they will see tomorrow, and living in slavery and exploitation.
That should make them feel better.

R. Davar., Mumbai, India

Hopelessness and frustration are killers of hope.
When hope is strangled by these viruses spreading through our secular world there remains only one response.
For those that know hope comes from knowing God created, cares and has plans for each and every being. When these that know are motivated to share that this hope is available to all as all are intrinsically valuable to the Creator then we will see hope restored to the peoples of His world.

CM, Woodstock, Canada

Young people have a lot of presure on them at school, with all the exams they are facing . Even the clever ones worry they will fail or not cope with exams. When they get the results it is hard to know what to do next. Children are not prepared for leaving school. Its as if it is never going to happen

Liz, liverpool, uk