MASOYI – A 20-year-old learner committed suicide last Friday.

Her family made the gruesome discovery at their home on Friday morning and police were immediately called to the scene. The deceased’s body was found lying in her bed facing up and foaming at the mouth.

“We suspect that she drank poison. A glass with a white liquid was also found on the scene,” explained the local police spokesperson, Const Nanikie Nonyane.

“It seemed like she was pregnant and her boyfriend was apparently cheating on her and she was hurting. She urged her friends to take care of themselves,” she said.

This newspaper also learnt that suicide was rife in Masoyi as it was estimated that the local police station opened three to four cases every month.

Warning signs that someone is considering suicide, may include the following:

Talking or joking about suicide, depression, self-criticism/minimisation, changes in personality, loss of interest in appearance or drop in hygiene and risk-taking behaviour including drinking and driving, having unprotected sex or taking drugs, excessive feelings of guilt, self-blame and subjective sense of failure.

How to help them

• In trying to help them it is important that you don’t make them feel guilty for confiding in you.

• Offer your support and listen to what the person has to say: let them know how much you care about them and enquire about how they feel you might be able to best support them.

• This may involve talking about ways in which the person can stay safe until they can get help such as counselling.

• If possible encourage them to contact their local GP, local counselling service or an anonymous service like Suicide Crisis Line or Life Line.