17th suicide in Bridgend

I doubt that, seems like a combination of normal rates of suicide and a press frenzy.

Originally Posted by Damien

I doubt that, seems like a combination of normal rates of suicide and a press frenzy.

Normal? Two deaths to suicide of teenagers living on the same street is not what I would define as anything remotely normal.

[superbiatch]

I can't understand why anyone would ever consider suicide. Often its described as the cowards way out, but it takes some bravery to actually go through with it - and mean it.

I can only assume (in my naive mind!) that they believe there is something better than here - or maybe thats just me hoping they do

Originally Posted by Mick

Normal? Two deaths to suicide of teenagers living on the same street is not what I would define as anything remotely normal.

Well they were close, the first one triggered the second one. There doesn't seem to be any cult here. The police and parents are saying it's just a string of tragic and unrelated deaths and I am inclined to agree.

Perhaps they don't want to admit there is a suicide cult to prevent a wild spread copy cat cult across the UK.

Originally Posted by Mick

Perhaps they don't want to admit there is a suicide cult to prevent a wild spread copy cat cult across the UK.

Well according to Sky the office of National Statistics said it's not a especially high amount of suicides for the size of the area. We get surprised at the number, but I would like to know the average suicides rates before we conclude that there is anything big at work here.

[superbiatch]

Originally Posted by Damien

Well according to Sky the office of National Statistics said it's not a especially high amount of suicides for the size of the area. We get surprised at the number, but I would like to know the average suicides rates before we conclude that there is anything big at work here.

Unfortunately for me, I get a death report on my local population every week at work (about 200k population). Most weeks, there is at least 1 suicide

[Pia]

It probably is a "normal" amount, but what seems to be abnormal is the fact it's such young people, or am i wrong?

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Damien

I doubt that, seems like a combination of normal rates of suicide and a press frenzy.

Boococks.

---------- Post added at 08:40 ---------- Previous post was at 08:38 ----------

Originally Posted by superbiatch

Unfortunately for me, I get a death report on my local population every week at work (about 200k population). Most weeks, there is at least 1 suicide

I don't doubt it but we're looking at a very small age group here. Not the whole demographic.

There is something wrong here, and they can't just bury their heads in the sand and point at statistics

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Pierre

There is something wrong here, and they can't just bury their heads in the sand and point at statistics

It's not an especially high amount for the age-group and area. It's being brought to attention because of the alleged link that no-one has been able to find. If it wasn't for the press most people outside the area would be none the wiser.

For example I know of at least 3 people of similar ages committing suicide since the turn of the year in a small part of West Scotland. That gives it a similar level as the area in South Wales but there isn't any talk of suicide pact or doomsday cults.

It's desperately sad that people with everything to live for decide to take the option of ending their own lives and more should be done to help them but thinking up conspiracy theories doesn't help anyone.

Originally Posted by Derek S

It's desperately sad that people with everything to live for decide to take the option of ending their own lives and more should be done to help them but thinking up conspiracy theories doesn't help anyone.

Noone is saying there is a conspiracy - Coincidence maybe - even some of the townsfolk of Bridgend are just as baffled.

Originally Posted by Pierre

Boococks.

---------- Post added at 08:40 ---------- Previous post was at 08:38 ----------



I don't doubt it but we're looking at a very small age group here. Not the whole demographic.

There is something wrong here, and they can't just bury their heads in the sand and point at statistics

We're not, But statistics are important. You cannot say this is a big, unexplained event, if it's on par with the normal rates of suicide.

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=1092

The suicide rate in men aged 15 and over showed a downward trend during the 1990s until a sharp increase in 1998. Since this peak, the rate has again fallen, stabilizing in 2006. Rates in women were lower than those seen in men throughout 1991 to 2006, and have shown an overall decline. The rates seen in 2006 for both men and women were the lowest seen across the period at 17.4 and 5.3 per 100,000 population, respectively.

17.4 men and 5.3 Women is per 100,000 is the 'normal' rate.

Population of Bridge-end: 132,600

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgend_(county_borough)

Of course, not that every death is not equally tragic or to minimize the deaths but this is not deserving of the media swarm it is getting, at least not in terms of a 'weird' occurrence or patten.

[lostandconfused]

does it matter if it's statistically normal or not?

17 people chosing to end their life, is a tragedy IMO and the causes of that needs to be found to prevent it happening again

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Derek S

It's not an especially high amount for the age-group and area. It's being brought to attention because of the alleged link that no-one has been able to find. If it wasn't for the press most people outside the area would be none the wiser.

For example I know of at least 3 people of similar ages committing suicide since the turn of the year in a small part of West Scotland. That gives it a similar level as the area in South Wales but there isn't any talk of suicide pact or doomsday cults.

It's desperately sad that people with everything to live for decide to take the option of ending their own lives and more should be done to help them but thinking up conspiracy theories doesn't help anyone.

Ok I've just been on the national stats web site.

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbas...asp?vlnk=13618

Which gives figure for up to 2004.

National UK average for suicides (of all ages above 15) is 18 per 100,000

In Wales it's slightly higher at 22 per 100,000 = 0.022%

it can then be broken down further on areas and deprivation. etc.

even then it's about 35 per 100,000 = 0.035%

So on those figures it doesn't look out of place.

The population of Bridgend at the last count was 130,000

and we're only two months into 2008 and we are at 17 deaths = 0.013%

So we're over half way to the annual figures and only 1/6 into the year.

So you can safely say that, at the moment, it certainly above average...............

And I'm not a conspiricy theorist but you cannot say that it is "normal"

---------- Post added at 10:55 ---------- Previous post was at 10:53 ----------

Originally Posted by Damien

We're not, But statistics are important. You cannot say this is a big, unexplained event, if it's on par with the normal rates of suicide.

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=1092



17.4 men and 5.3 Women is per 100,000 is the 'normal' rate.

Population of Bridge-end: 132,600

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgend_(county_borough)

Of course, not that every death is not equally tragic or to minimize the deaths but this is not deserving of the media swarm it is getting, at least not in terms of a 'weird' occurrence or patten.

Thank you - I have done the same (above) and that is an annual rate, we are two months into the year. Those figures are also for 15+ whereas we are dealing with a much thinner demographic spread of a few years.

and we're only two months into 2008 and we are at 17 deaths = 0.013%

So we're over half way to the annual figures and only 1/6 into the year.

So you can safely say that, at the moment, it certainly above average...............

The 17 deaths are from January 2007, not 2008. So it's been a year and a bit.

Also its 22 per 100,000 not 18. (average, the women and men need to be added together) Not sure if it's the same for wales or higher)