ELUKWATINI – The community is shocked about the recent increase in suicides among learners in various parts of the area.
In December alone two teenagers – both aged 19 – hanged themselves at their respective homes.
Const Solly Mbokane said both deceased – a boy and a girl – were discovered hanging from ropes in their houses by family members. The motives for the suicides are unknown.
Statistics indicate that there are 667suicides in the country every month, 154 per week, 22 every day and virtually one every hour. Research conducted by the students of the University Cape Town (www.uct.ac.za/health/ suicide/ ) showed that, according to the World Health Organisation ,suicide is among the top three causes of death among people aged 15 to 44 years, and is the second leading cause of death among university students.
The research summarise the most significant causes of suicidal behaviour in the country to be among others academic-related problems (including parental expectations around academic performance and career choices), relationship difficulties; peer-group difficulties like bullying; social isolation and thus a lack of social support, family problems such as disrupted family environments; broken family relationships; adverse parent-child interactions and violent abuse in the home.
Causes also includes past or present physical or sexual trauma, mental health problems and high levels of stress and an accompanying sense of helplessness.
Warning signs may include the following:
Talking or joking about suicide,depression,self-criticism/minimization, 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. Other causes include excessive feelings of guilt, self-blame and subjective sense of failure.
What to do next:
Studies also show that it is really important to take a disclosure of suicidal thinking or intent seriously. In trying to help them it is important that you don’t make them feel guilty for confiding in you.
It is also important to 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 might involve talking about ways in which the person can stay safe until they can acquire appropriate help such as counselling.
If possible encourage them to contact their local GP, local counselling service or an anonymous phone line like the Suicide Crisis Line or the Life Line crisis service.
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