Another dies in wave of suicides

ANOTHER teenager was found dead yesterday in an area blighted by teenage suicides.

The death of 16-year-old Jenna Parry is the 17th suspected suicide involving young people from the Bridgend area of south Wales in the last year.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Morris told reporters at a press conference that Jenna’s body was found at 7.45am yesterday on the common at Cefn Cribbwr.

“She had apparently taken her own life,” said the officer.

He said a review into teenage suicides in the area was ongoing but added: “We have found no suggestion of any suicide pact.”

The youngsters all used social networking websites, such as Bebo and MySpace.

But Mr Morris said: “We haven’t found any suggestion of a link or influence through those sites.”

“What we have found is that these are vulnerable young people, and taking one’s own life may be becoming an acceptable option to young people for issues that they are facing.”

At the same press conference, the parents of 15-year-old Nathaniel Pritchard, who apparently committed suicide last week, blamed their son’s death on media coverage of the suicides in the Bridgend area.

Nathaniel’s mother, Sharon, said: “Media coverage put the idea into Nathaniel’s head.”

Sitting beside Nathaniel’s father Vincent, Mrs Pritchard said: “We have lost our son and media reporting of this has made it an incredibly difficult time and more unbearable by intensive media coverage.”

Jenna’s death left the close-knit community of Cefn Cribbwr reeling.

Joan Davies, 79, said: “When I heard about this today I was devastated, everyone I have spoken to feels the same.

“What makes it worse is that these are people who are just starting out in life and they have everything before them.”