Teen suicide prevention talk in Ivory Park
IVOTY PARK - The South African Depression and Anxiety Group conducted a series of talks to pupils at Ivory Park Secondary School on 19 February.
The talks were held during teen suicide week. CEO of the group Elizabeth Matare said, “We facilitated a peer-to-peer transfer of lifestyle messages and support to pupils and reached over 1 800 pupils on that day.”
Matare said statistics show that, nationally, 9.5 percent of teen deaths are due to suicide. According to the South National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey done in 2008, 41 percent of youth aged between 15 and 19 had to see a counsellor or doctor for feeling helpless and sad; 21 percent made one or more attempts to commit suicide and 24 percent were admitted to hospital for suicide attempts.
“Suicide is very real and an immediate public health issue, but 60 percent of youth do not get any help. There are clear warning signs of a teen in distress but parents and teachers often do not recognise them,” Matare added.
Principal of Ivory Park Secondary School Edith Mamosebo said suicide messages must be taken seriously. “We are happy that the depression and anxiety group came to our school to address teachers and pupils. A lot of young people commit suicide and attempt to do so. It is important for them to know that suicide is not the answer.”
Matare said warning signs of suicide include:
- Talking about suicide.
- Depression.
- Preparing for death: giving things away, saying goodbye.
- Drastic changes in personality.
- Risk-taking behaviour such as drunken driving.
- Writing about death or painting images of death [i.e. obsessing over death].
National Teen Suicide Crisis hotline: 0800 567 567
0800 567 567.
