As another school year gets underway in an increasingly competitive world, it is a sad reality that some teens will find themselves isolated, lonely, vulnerable and unable to share their deepest fears in the time of Covid-19.

ALSO READ: Teens have the highest suicide risk

Psychiatrist Dr Ulli Meys, who specialises in adolescent mental health at Akeso Kenilworth in Cape Town, says that in the last decade suicide has risen sharply among 15 to 18-year-olds.

‘Every day we see patients who may feel suicidal, who have suicidal intent or who have attempted suicide.
‘Teenage suicide is highly complex.

‘It is devastating and has profound consequences, leaving scars for generations.

‘Tragically, there are few people available to treat adolescents who present with mental health issues,’ Meys said.
Meanwhile, suicidal ideation is not a stand-alone condition.

‘It grows out of depression, which often drives suicidal thoughts,’ says Mark de la Rey, a clinical psychologist.
‘What makes suicide so complex is impulsivity.

‘We live in a world of instant gratification where irreversible lethal attempts are sometimes made in an attempt to relieve pain or immediately escape a distressing situation.

‘Adolescents are impulsive, even in play.

‘They are also easily overwhelmed, making the matter more dangerous,’ adds De la Rey.

Prevention and treatment
According to De la Rey, numerous studies have shown that early intervention is key. In instances where teenagers attempt suicide, screening it is important to establish any underlying mental illness and what stressors and risk factors are present.

While teenagers want to demonstrate their independence it is important for parents to keep the door open at all times – they should be accessible and make themselves available.

If parents notice a change in behaviour it is important to engage and see a general practitioner as a first step.
‘Get the adolescent screened so a diagnosis can be made.

‘This will result in immediate relief as the child feels heard.

‘Many adolescents may have fleeting suicidal thoughts while some are having what we call suicidal intentions; it is, therefore, imperative to determine where the individual falls on the scale.’

Most teenagers who attempt suicide have tried before, and they must be acknowledged and helped.

It is important to build in a safety net for them, and it is vital that we recognise and treat the underlying problems.

‘If we want to address teen suicide we need to identify mental illness.

‘Often general practitioners, pediatricians and school counsellors may be the first port of call.

‘All suicide threats or indications should be taken seriously and acted upon to keep safe,’ Meys says.

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