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Wales: suicide capital of UK

IMMEDIATE action must be taken to cut the suicide rate in North Wales experts insisted last night – after it emerged 86 men and women killed themselves in one year.

Figures released in Parliament showed 68 men and 18 women took their own lives in 2006. Although the number was down slightly from 2000, when 88 suicides were recorded in the region, mental health charity Mind’s policy adviser called for a national strategy to be put in place to help reduce the death toll.

The ages of those who committed suicide have not been revealed.
Ruth Coombs, manager for influence and change at Mind Cymru, said Wales was "lagging behind" when it came to tackling the problem.
She added: "There are particular issues for different communities in Wales.
"In rural areas problems with depressions and feelings of isolation are big
issues. There is a lack of access to early intervention.
"The rates have not changed significantly in Wales for many years but we now have the highest rates in the UK because numbers in other areas have fallen dramatically.

"Scotland did have very high rates but they set up a national strategy that has made a significant impact.
"There is also the additional challenge of the Welsh language. Our experience of mental health services is that it’s a particular challenge in North Wales because more people speak Welsh as their first language.
"The Assembly needs to move from considering a strategy to implementing one as soon as possible so we are not receiving a different range of services to the rest of the UK."

Clywd West recorded the highest rate in 2006, with 12 men committing suicide - more than double the number reported in 2000. Ynys Môn had the lowest rate with three men taking their own lives in 2006.
The figures were published following the spate of suicides among young people in South Wales.
Police are investigating the 16 cases in Bridgend since January 2007 where people aged between 15 and 27 have hanged themselves.
The latest cases involved cousins Kelly Stephenson, 20, who was found dead in a locked room on holiday in Kent on Valentine’s Day, and Nathaniel Pritchard, 15.
Madeleine Moon, Bridgend’s MP has claimed social networking websites could have been "romanticising suicide".

Wales: suicide capital of UK - Daily Post North Wales

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