Stopping Suicide
300 people kill themselves every year in Wales. Three quarters are men. Eye On Wales talks to people affected by suicide and asks what is being done to stop people from taking their lives.
Last updated: 18 May 2009
It's over a year since Bridgend found itself in the eye of a global media storm. Whilst the Welsh Assembly Government was working on an action plan to reduce suicide and self-harm at that time, the events in Bridgend accelerated its development.
Phil Pitchford's (pictured) son Daniel took his life two weeks before his 20th birthday in 2002. Since his son's death Phil has worked hard to prevent suicide in young people by becoming a trustee of Papyrus, a charity dedicated to preventing youth suicide.
"The only way Dan's life will not be wasted is that if I know that I've prevented it from happening in one other young man, and then Dan's life's been worthwhile."
The Welsh Assembly Government aims to bring Wales' suicide rate down 10% by 2012.
Tracey Roberts, who's son Anthony Martin took his life two years ago in Bridgend, hopes it will:
"I hope they're going to do it right. It's not just about putting paperwork up on walls. I hope this is going to start saving lives because it needs to. It's too late for me, for my son, it's too late for other people round here, but it may not be too late for somebody else."
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