Website's support after suicides

The website describes the effects of suicide on family and friends

Young people who have lost someone close to them because of suicide have set up a website to give advice and support to vulnerable youngsters.

Teenagers in Bridgend came up with the idea after more than 20 young people apparently took their own lives in the county over the past two years.

They hope the information will appeal to their age group and contains myths and facts about suicide.

The Choose Life web pages are being launched on Bridgend council's website.

They also contain advice on where young people can get help and personal statements about the effects of suicide on those left behind.

The young people behind the project said they hoped also to use social networking sites to direct people to their website.

"'It's a positive way of giving information to young people that's easily accessible and it offers help to people who may be going through difficult times," they said.

If people are educated more on the topic then they would have a few more seconds to think and realise the impact it has on others Rhys, 17

"We thought by putting it on a website it would be more appealing to people our age. The intention now is to put it onto social networking sites to provide the information to a wider audience.''

One of the youngsters, 17-year-old Rhys, said he and his friends decided to create the website because they did not think there was enough access to information about the effects of suicide.

"Losing someone close to you is indescribable really," he said.

"The devastating effects it had on myself, my close friends and family, it does bring you to tears just thinking about it.

"I think if this can be prevented, why should someone suffer from it?

"I didn't have a clue about any of the websites to help or people who you can go to for help, and this is why me and my mates felt it was a good idea to create a site which you could access and further help yourself.

"I was devastated and I was angry... there wasn't something like Choose Life already set up."

We have seen some terrible things written about this area, but it's not the Bridgend county I know and love JJ Williams, former rugby star

He said he believed education and raising awareness could help prevent more people taking their own lives.

"If people are educated more on the topic then they would have a few more seconds to think and realise the impact it has on others and that there's a way out, there's a way to prevent it," he added.

Rugby star support

The teenagers approached the Bridgend Local Service Board (LSB), which has helped them with their idea, along with Bridgend council's Educational Psychology Service.

The website is being supported by former Welsh rugby star JJ Williams, who said: "We have seen some terrible things written about this area, but it's not the Bridgend county I know and love. I really commend the students for what they are doing."

LSB chair Dr Jo Farrar, who is also chief executive of Bridgend council, said they were keen to help the "inspirational" students.

"They, more than anyone else, know how it feels to lose people they are close to, so they are best placed to reach out to their peers," she said.

"Their pages contain excellent advice, as well as some very stark messages about suicide and are written in a way that we hope will appeal to young people, not just in this area but all over Wales and the UK."