Rosemary Vaux -
tel: 020 8943 5343 mobile: 07792 72 62 41
email: rvaux@ravenstonepr.co.uk
Rhys Meirion Supports PAPYRUS Cymru
4 August 2007
Rhys Meirion was guest speaker at a reception hosted by PAPYRUS Cymru to raise awareness of the work of national charity PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide and its helpline, HOPELineUK 08000 68 41 41, which is based in Wrexham.
Rhys said he was shocked to learn of the high number of young people in Wales, especially young men, who take their own lives each year. Per 100,000, Wales has a higher rate of suicide of young people between the ages of 11 and 17 than England. “I know many families who have been affected this way,” he commented. “As a parent and ex headmaster of a primary school I am aware that young people face considerable pressure in today’s highly competitive environment: including pressure from their peers to be ‘super cool’. I therefore applaud the work PAPYRUS does to raise awareness that suicide can be prevented and that help is available. I therefore urge you to make the HOPELineUK telephone number as widely known as possible. Anyone concerned about a young person should never hesitate to call.”
PAPYRUS Cymru is a local initiative to reduce young suicide in Wales by raising awareness of HOPELineUK and promoting the work of the national charity. The PAPYRUS Cymru chair, Ann Williams from Mold, said: “HOPELineUK receives many calls from people in Wales concerned about young suicidal people: calls from parents, siblings, friends, teachers, carers, medics and those providing mental health support. Our helpline is staffed by trained professionals who give practical advice, in confidence and anonymity, on how to respond to suicidal feelings: what to say and do.”
Anne Williams also called for new members to join PAPYRUS Cymru. “We are a very positive, energetic group with strong determination to prevent more families enduring the distress of suicide. We are most definitely not a bereavement group. We believe our work is vital to raise awareness and desperately needed funds.”
For more information about PAPYRUS Cymru please call secretary, Jean Catherall on 01352 752 649.
Young Suicide in Cymru
Between 2001-05 (year aggregate)
The average number of people of 24 years and under who took their own lives was 37.
The average for people of 34 years and under was 92
Most suicides are by young men - approximately 3:1
Wales has a higher rate of suicide per 100,000 of young people between the ages of 11 and 17 than England. This does not mean that more die in Wales than in England, but that the rate is higher.
In a recent statement Phil Walter (July 2007) Coroner for Bridgend and the South Wales Valleys, said that he was extremely concerned about the rise in suicides on his patch. In 2006 he dealt with 40 suicides of young men, almost one a week.
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