There is hope after Klara’s death
PARKTOWN – In spite of the intense grief that the family of Klara Göttert has gone through they believe that there is hope. Klara's suicide six months ago sent shockwaves through South Africa.
The pain is still etched in the eyes of Liesl Göttert whose 14-year-old daughter Klara fell to her death at Northgate Shopping Centre.
Northcliff Melville Times spoke to Göttert during Teenage Suicide Awareness Week.
“It’s been six months since Klara’s death and I still cry every day,” said Göttert. “There are wounds that never show on the body, that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.”
The grief that Liesl, father Dieter and their children Rebekka (20) and Denno (17) have gone through has now culminated in a video production which will bring hope to people who have lost loved ones. “Many parents whose children commit suicide, feel so stigmatised and guilty. They feel they are a failure. It would be unnatural if you didn’t feel this way,” said Göttert.
After Klara’s death hundreds of teenagers and young adults started phoning, messaging and mailing Liesl, because they felt comfortable to share their feelings with her on social media.
“During the time when Klara’s death was in the news, I received an average of 200 emails, messages and phone calls from young people who told me they had tried to commit suicide many times and needed help.
“Because I was outspoken about Klara’s death so many parents asked me to help them. It wasn’t one or two calls. I suddenly became the expert even though I knew nothing,” Liesl pointed out.
“I started writing a book. I am nearly finished. But I doubt that I would ever publish it. I wrote is because I saw so many people who do not have any answers.
“I tried to ‘unpack’ everything in an effort to try and understand what happened,” she said.
According to Liesl, the Klara Göttert Foundation will now be shooting video interviews with people who have experienced profound grief as a result of losing a loved one, as well as friends and family members whose loved ones took their own lives. Should you want to participate, please schedule an interview time by sending an email to videointerviews@klaragottert.org
Dr. Erika Hitge of Emmarentia, who is in private practice, said suicide statistics worldwide are troubling. In the 15 to 24-year-old age group, teen suicide is the third highest cause of death.
