Teen suicide prevention week runs from 14 to 21 February and aims to educate South Africans on how to keep their teens safe.
Sadag released statistics that show that 10 to 19 year olds face the highest risk of attempting suicide and one in five youth attempt suicide, yet less than 1 percent of mental hospital beds are allocated for children and adolescents.
More than 38 percent of youth have felt so hopeless that they’ve needed to see a doctor, more than 29 percent of the youth who attempted suicide needed medical treatment and more than 9 percent of non-natural teen deaths are a result of suicide.
This can be attributed to a number of factors ranging from school pressures to peer pressure and hormone imbalances.
“My friend had recently lost her mother and really didn’t identify with anyone. I guess I tried to be a good friend to her, but I obviously didn’t realise what she was feeling and she eventually took her own life in Grade 10,” said Madison Longe.
Sadag has identified multiple warning signs that may indicate that a teen could want to attempt suicide, and ways that you can help.
They will host a Facebook chat with a suicide survivor and a psychologist on 20 February at 1pm.
Sadag also has a Suicide Crisis Centre in South Africa and offers support, counselling, information and referrals to those who are feeling depressed and or who are thinking about suicide.
Details 0800 567 567; SMS 31393; www.sadag.org
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