Daily Maverick
Dailymaverick logo

South Africa

South Africa, Maverick Citizen

We should be spreading the word about suicide among teens, experts urge

We should be spreading the word about suicide among teens, experts urge
Takudzwa Pongweni
By Takudzwa Pongweni
11 Sep 2024
Facebook
0
On World Suicide Prevention Day, experts emphasise the need for early intervention and proactive mental health measures to combat rising teen suicide rates. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group, marking its 30th anniversary, highlights the importance of open discussions and comprehensive support systems, including school programmes and crisis helplines, to tackle this critical issue.

“We should be spreading the word about suicide among teens. We should be spreading the message that by the time it gets to suicide, there’s this kind of, I suppose, surge in suicide, we have failed probably five to 15 steps before that surge.”

These were the words of Zamo Mbele, a clinical psychologist, speaking at the South African Depression and Anxiety Group’s (Sadag) commemoration of World Suicide Prevention day on 10 September.

The event spotlighted teen suicide prevention, a critical issue in our communities, with a series of discussions on the topic by several guest speakers, including Roshni Parbhoo-Seetha, who spoke on teen suicide, suicide contagion as well as Sadag’s school talk programme, and Professor Katherine Sorsdahl, who shared new research on youth and depression.

The organisation also marked its 30-year anniversary. Zane Wilson, one of South Africa’s leading mental health advocates and founder of Sadag, said that significant strides had been made when it came to mental health discussions, but there was still a long way to go towards achieving an improved mental health landscape, with rural and lower-income communities being left behind. 

Confronting the Crisis


According to the World Health Organization, every year  726,000 people take their own lives, and there are many more people who make suicide attempts. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15-25-year-olds.

“That is extraordinary. One suicide for a young person is not okay. It’s just not okay. The adolescent phase is actually all about life. It’s all about actually getting out there, experiencing the world, forging through things, really making a stamp on the world. It’s actually a stage full of energy, and if suicide, which is the loss of life, is the third leading cause of death for a period where you find the most life, something has gone horribly wrong,” said Mbele.

“The other leading causes of death are accidents and illness. For both, prevention is crucial. In accidents, there are speed limits, lane discipline, and safety features like seatbelts and airbags to minimise risk. Similarly, for illnesses such as obesity and heart conditions, we don’t wait until patients are in critical condition. Instead, we proactively include measures like physical activity in our treatments to prevent these issues from escalating,” said Mbele.

“Apparently, prevention is key. So how do we apply this to suicide? I'll tell you how not — we don’t stop from speaking about it,” he said.

Mbele stressed the need to focus on early intervention and prevention rather than just addressing suicidal thoughts. 

“To effectively prevent suicide we need to address not only suicide itself, but also the factors and issues that precede it,” he said. He discussed the significance of addressing mental health proactively, including good sleep, diet, and physical activity.  Focusing on the underlying conditions and challenges could help people intervene earlier and more effectively, he said.

“When it comes to suicide its speaking to people about the red flags and everything that comes before the individual becomes suicidal,” he said. 

Although the conversation on suicide has evolved from being a taboo topic to a more open discussion, but there is still much room for improvement.

Addressing adolescent suicide


Mbele discussed the paradox of living in a highly connected society but being disconnected from the pain and suffering of others, and highlighted the importance of speaking about the ordinary challenges of adolescence and providing support to those who are struggling.

The reasons for suicide are multifaceted and influenced by social, cultural, biological, psychological, and environmental factors present across the life-course.

Teen suicide can result from a complex mix of factors, including:

  • Mental Health Issues: conditions like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder increase suicide risk.

  • Trauma and Abuse: experiences of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, and exposure to violence, contribute to suicidal thoughts.

  • Bullying and Cyberbullying: persistent bullying, both in person and online, can lead to feelings of hopelessness and isolation.

  • Family Problems: dysfunctional family dynamics, including conflict and neglect, affect mental health.

  • Social Isolation: feeling disconnected from peers and lacking a support network can exacerbate loneliness and despair.

  • Academic and Social Pressure: stress from academic performance and peer pressure can overwhelm some teens.


“However, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses, such as financial problems, relationship disputes, or chronic pain and illness. In addition, experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse or loss and a sense of isolation are strongly associated with suicidal behaviour. Suicide rates are also high among vulnerable groups who experience discrimination, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) persons; and prisoners,” according to the World Health Organization. 

Mbele emphasised the importance of addressing the root causes of distress and providing early interventions to prevent suicide. The conversation should centre on the everyday challenges of adolescence and offer solutions to help young people cope. Mbele also advocated for a proactive approach to mental health, calling for open and inclusive discussions that encouraged addressing these challenges and provided the necessary support to youth.

“I think the hope is that we know what we need to do. We know what we need to do, and we just need to start doing it. We’re not going to be silent about this. Let’s be proactive about our prevention of suicide by speaking about how difficult it is to be a simple young person today,” he said. 

The situation in schools 


Parbhoo-Seetha reported that the “Suicide Should Not Be a Secret” initiative had reached more than 120,000 students and more than 3,000 teachers. She highlighted that one of the key findings from the outreach programme was the concerning frequency of suicide attempts occurring at or before the start of the school day. She also noted concerns about the ease with which individuals could access rat poison, highlighting it as a significant issue in schools and saying schools often lacked the knowledge to handle such crises effectively. 

For instance, three weeks ago two students ingested rat poison in the morning and were taken to the sick room by their friends, but the school was unsure how to manage the situation. 

“Rat poison is one of our biggest ones, and what we are finding is that schools themselves don’t know what to do in a crisis. Rat poison is cheap, for R10 you can walk to the corner shop and just buy it. You don’t have to be a certain age, you can be anyone and it’s sitting there and easily accessible,”  she said.

Suicide Crisis Helpline


Sadag runs the country’s only Suicide Crisis Helpline, raising awareness about suicide prevention, letting people know where to get help, and encouraging more conversations around depression and suicide prevention, which can help save a life.

Sarah Hards, a weekend supervisor and school outreach team leader, said that the call centre, which handles approximately 2,500-3,000 calls daily, was generally busy. However, she noted that call volumes typically surged during certain times of the month, particularly when people were facing financial difficulties, as well as during holidays like Valentine’s Day and Christmas Day, when individuals often experienced heightened loneliness.

Palesa Thulo, a BA honours psychology student, has been working as a volunteer for the organisation for a little more than a year. 

When Thulo heads into a shift she has no idea who she will be talking to that day, but she knows it will be important. It could be someone who is facing down one of their most harrowing moments, or maybe the person on the other end of the line is simply lonely, with no one they feel they can turn to.

“We will sit on the phone with you for as long as we need to sit on the phone with you. I think it helped me in my own mental health journey and how I can support myself and reach out to the people closest to me, but I think we give people hope in knowing that they can call in for free and sit on the phone with us and that we’ll support them through whatever challenges they are going through,” she said.

“We’re not miracle workers, but we’re definitely a necessary resource and I always say that even if we’re somebody’s last resort, I am grateful that we are their last resort. Even if we are the last people that you call, we are here as your support system.”  

Those needing help can contact the Sadag suicide crisis helpline at 080 056 7567. 

More resources and contacts can be found here. DM

Categories:

Tags: