Youth's angst and depression...

Another young adult (Jenna Parry) was found hanged in Britain yesterday. Police suspect that it's another suicide case. It's the 17th case of its kind in the Bridgend area (south Wales) since the start of last year. The fact that a number of these incidents involve people who know or are related to each other fuels suspicions that it is a case of suicide pacts. Some blame the media for over reporting on the details for the earlier cases thus glamorising the acts and prompting copycat suicides.

Does the reponsibility lie with the media or are today's youth are less resilient? If the latter is true, does the society has a hand in it?

The act of suicide is indeed an irresponsible one. The victims (or perpetrators depending on how one looks at it) took their lives without regards as to how that might affect their families and the society at large. If our society's emphasis on the individual (instead of the community) is promoting such selfish actions, then wouldn't it be counterproductive to sympathise with the victims? Doing so would only push more youths to go down the same path as that would ensure attention being showered upon them even though it would proof to be meaningless.

The public has called for more emotional support (counselling etc.) to be provided for youths. In my opinion, it's like providing a second crutch to a person who should be learning how to get rid of the first one. Instead of getting youths to 'talk' about their angst and depression, efforts should be channelled towards building up the spirit of community with opportunities that will encourage youths to play a more active part in the local community. Doing that will enable youths understand the impact and implications of their individual actions.

Your thoughts on this matter?