According to the police, a neighbour last saw the 14-year-old when the boy greeted him like he usually did, as he passed his house just before 16:00 on Saturday 8 January. His mother got worried when he had not returned home by 21:00, however. She called friends to help look for him and went to the Carletonville Police Station to report him missing. As far as could be determined, she was still at the police station when friends called her to say her son’s body had been found in a small abandoned building at what used to be the old Blyvoor rugby field. According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag), South Africa’s largest mental health initiative, today’s teens are impatient, overloaded with media and entertainment, techno-savvy and street smart. Yet, while they have the knowledge, they lack awareness and maturity and are emotionally naïve. Today’s teenagers know a lot more than their parents in terms of technology but they have also accomplished something their parents’ generation did not – they are killing themselves far more often than any other generation. In South Africa, nine per cent of all teen deaths are due to suicide – and this figure is on the rise. In the 15–24 age group, suicide is the second leading – and fastest-growing – cause of death. Children as young as seven have committed suicide in South Africa. Every day, 22 people take their lives. Suicide is on the increase and the question is why? One fifteen-year-old girl said, “I feel so alone; I just want to end it all. I want to take pills to make the emptiness go away.” A ten-year-old said, “I pray to God every night that I die and do not wake up.” Disturbing words, which adults often dismiss as a “phase”, something the child or teen will grow out of. Yet, research indicates that 75 per cent of people who commit or attempt suicide have shown warning signs. Psychiatrists and psychologists warn parents, educators and friends to take these threats seriously and get professional help. Through Sadag’s teen suicide prevention programme, “Suicide Shouldn’t be a Secret”, the organi-sation has found that five per cent of learners admit to having suicidal ideation and eight per cent admit to attempting suicide at some point. Sadag believes the true figures are much higher. Research has shown that adolescents prefer to confide in friends rather than adults or relatives. However, there are many free resources for teenagers or adults who feel suicidal. These include Dr Reddy’s Help Line – 0800 21 22 23, the Cipla 24-hr Mental Health Helpline – 0800 456 789, the Pharmadynamics Police & Trauma Line – 0800 20 50 26, the Adcock Ingram Depression and Anxiety Helpline – 0800 70 80 90, the ADHD Helpline – 0800 55 44 33, the Suicide Crisis Line – 0800 567 567, the Sadag Mental Health Line – 011 234 4837, the Akeso Psychiatric Response Unit 24-Hour line – 0861 435 787, the Cipla Whatsapp Chat Line (09:00–16:00, seven days a week) – 076 882 2775, the 24-hour Healthcare Workers Care Network Helpline – 0800 21 21 21 or SMS 43001, the NPOWERSA Helpline – 0800 515 515 or SMS 43010 or the Department of Social Development Substance Abuse Line 24-hour helpline – 0800 12 13 14 or SMS 32312. 
