Poor little boy! To think that there have been 4000 others who felt the same! There needs to be something said, perhaps in schools, so it can reach the most children, that life can sometimes become unbearable, but hang on there, it will get better. With advice of where to go to talk about it.

margie , victoria, australia

Who really cares what everybody thinks in this article. The bottom line is that we should all listen to our children, friends's children or the one next door. look our for signs and don't just ignore it and say it is not our problem. The more families move away from home the harder to get help.

TERRY, NAIROBI,

How does an 8-year old know how to hang himself?

John Neal, Chania, Greece

"Suffer the little Children to come unto me...." said our Lord. May Joshua RIP in the hands of God.

ian payne, walsall,

Why didn't his father ''lie'' to him?It is not a must to tell a young boy the ''truth''.
Secondly, this young boy might have been TRYING TO GO WHERE HIS MOTHER is ,and so from his own point of view he was ''travelling'' rather than taking his own life...who knows!!!

Samir Zakhour , Amman, Jordan

Perhaps someone in a similar situation as he Josh's father was a few months ago, might consider on hearing of this tragedy, to let the children go to a professional therapist to help deal with this type of trauma. A parent, especially one dealing with their own grief, needs help.

louise, guadalajara, mexico

TO: James, Littlehampton, UK

As you note, THE TIMES is read by an INTERNATIONAL audience. There are millions of expatriate British citizens living abroad. Why would you want to silence THEIR voices?

"I might not agree with what you say..but I will defend to the death your right to say it!"

Garth Rex, Glendale Heights, USA

Life can be so cruel and unfair. My thoughts and prayers go to the family.

Paul, West Midlands,

What can you do but send Jason Aldred a huge hug and wish him all the sympathy in the world. I shudder to think what he has been through.

Dear Times - as a UK newspaper is tany chance of restricting comments to UK residents? Some of the overseas comments shown here and in other articles defy belief

James, Littlehampton, UK

What a delightful little boy Joshua was. I so feel for his family. What puzzles me is the assumption that it was suicide. Kids naturally play about and do daft things, not normally with such dreadful consequences.

gerry, exeter, england

am really upset reading this story, the thought of a little boy feeling so miserable that he ended his own precious life, which was just beginning, God love him. My sympathies to his family.

ger nolan, tralee, co kerry, ireland

What a beautiful little boy,it is heartbreaking, but no one is to blame except cancer. A tragedy hit this family and really there for the grace of god go all of us...My heartfelt sympathy to his father and family. I shall be running in the race for life for BC cancer research funding. GOD BLESS

sarah, london,

When my children first started at School here I was issued

with a form to sign which was concerned with Children dying.

Following some other events I received a call from the current Director of Education in which he informed me "Well Mrs..................you're not from around here."

Digory, Narnia, Scotland

This sad loss hurts us all!

Regarding cancer deaths: If 5% of current cancer deaths were instead caused by an external enemy, the entire Nation would long ago have been mobilized to fight the enemy. Is it not time for a more vigourous "War on Cancer"..with 1 in 3 now becoming victims?

Garth Rex, Glendale Heights, USA

My thoughts are with the family, especially with Joshua's father. Such a tragic loss. Hopefully this will lead to closer attention being paid to children in similarly sad situations across the country.

Sonia, Ashford, UK

When large numbers of children are commiting suicide, its time to ask "Is our society really healthy? And if not, why not?" There is a high incidence of homicides in the USA. But child suicides are almost unheard of. Why the difference? Understanding may be the key to intelligent prevention.

Garth Rex, Glendale Heights, USA

I have just read about this story and was unable to contain myself while reading it. This kid didnt deserve to die nor was it his time as people say he was just unable to handle these losses and should have been watched extremely close at home...but no one is to blame...you will be miss josh....RIP

Brian, Indianapolis, USA

Heartbreaking

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK

a great loss to his Father and Family alike, my prayers go to them on this sad day. As for the chap from china, well i was an english teacher there for three years and believe me, our system here puts the PRC schooling to shame, 12-13 hours on how to love the party....pioneers indeed.

RIP child.

david, london, UK

I think I would have been worried by the fact that the school were monitoring him and they say his 'school life was happy and there was no change in his work or play. The poor child was clearly covering up his sadness and despair at the loss of his mother. My heart goes out to his family.

Suzanne , Bromley, England

What a tragedy for his father and grandmother to bear having already lost the boy's mother and grandfather so recently. My heart goes out to them.

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

A great sadness for his father, losing his precious son, his wife, and his father in law. There are so many sad things happening today, but when a boy of eight makes a decision to end his life it shows some serious defects in compassion and help. In my lifetime I have never heard of such a tragedy

Phil de Buquet, Newport,

Personally I don't have a prurient interest in the reactions of the other children. What happened to privacy and discretion ?

Jon, North West, UK

Rest in peace innocent soul. Sad, sad. sad...

Cris, Tm, Eastern Europe

Poor Joshua, may his innocent soul rest in eternal peace. Condolences to all of the family. I think externally Joshua seemed to be coping well and doing what was expected of him, but internally the poor boy was painfully grief stricken. He was in need of well deserved comfort and attention.

Catrina, London,

My heart goes out to this family. As with adults and children if they are grieving to pick up a phone and talk is one of the hardest things to do. Put in place time in schools about feelings, how events have an effect. Most importantly it is okay and normal. Encourage open discussion.

Trisha, Caversham, Berkshire

Alex, it's may more be the case that the "more developed" a country is the more efficient it's media is at reporting such tragedies，as opposed to simply painting a picture where everything is constantly fine.. This was a horrible accident and my thoughts are with Joshua's family

George, Beijing, China

Born in the 1950s was tough and sorry some teachers were bulleys.But now its gone to far the other way and teachers are frightened to show their pupils any form of comfort for fear of reprisals.This is the fault of our soceity today .Bring back CONCERN FOR OTHERS.My deep sympathy to Joshuas family

Gill Parris, Eastbourne, East Sussex

Alex from guangzhou - perhaps it happens more than you know of in China too, but only goes reported in the "more developed" society and is censored, shielded from your delicate view, in your perfect china

Ian, London, UK

Alex in Ghamgzou,

How silly tro suggest that there is anything in this tragedy indicating that there are problems in the education system.
This death was a result of emotional loss e.g. his mother and grandfather, and nothing could have prevented that.

Lydia, Camberley

lydia Harratt, camberley,

Why the more developed of society brings more tragedy things to the children?Don't you think is the extremely right time to find out the kids' education systems' problems of yours?
Joshua is such a cute kid that he should be having a bright life in his future.

alex , guangzhou, china

Don't wait!
Get the children professional help immediately!

Jerry Scroggin, Phoenix, Arizona/USA