Suicide season for kids
October 11, 2004 Edition 1
Matric. A simple enough word on the face of it but a word that at final exam time strikes gloom, worry, fear and even thoughts of suicide in the minds of South African pupils.
The matric exams are set to start today, and with them comes the downside - debilitating stress, erratic behaviour, burning the midnight oil and, at the very dark end of the scale, a frightening number of youngsters who simply cannot take the pressure and opt to take their own lives instead.
Indeed, statistics now show that hundreds, if not thousands, of South African schoolchildren try to commit suicide every year.
In KwaZulu-Natal alone, 21.3% of boys and 26.7% of girls at school have made a suicide attempt which required medical treatment.
Statistics in the latest SA National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey, shows thousands of high school pupils experience various levels of suicidal behaviour.
Even though the exact reasons are not known, they range from alcoholism at home, not living up to parents' expectations, rape, abuse, feelings of hopelessness, and HIV/Aids, to name a few.
The survey, which consisted of a sampling of more than 20 schools per province, was conducted to provide nationally and provincially representative data on the prevalence of key risk behaviours - intentional and unintentional injuries, violence and traffic safety, suicide-related behaviour, drug abuse, sexual behaviour, nutrition and dietary activity, physical activity, and hygiene-related behaviours.
More than 14 766 pupils were sampled, mostly from grades 8, 9, 10 and 11.
Children and adolescents under the age of 19 make up half of the South African population.
Other shocking statistics revealed by the survey include the fact that more than 1 000 pupils made one or more attempts at suicide, more than 1 000 pupils had actively planned to commit suicide, while a similar number had considered taking their own lives.
According to Michelle de Sousa, project manager of the SA Depression and Anxiety Group, young people are increasingly attempting or committing suicide as a result of depression.
Group founder Zane Wilson said the organisation was working constantly to ensure that people realised that depression was not a weakness, but a disease.
"The work we do is to help teens understand that depression is an illness, not a weakness, and that treatment is accessible, free and confidential," she said.
"Unless we, as a total society, face the harsh reality that it could, God forbid, happen to our own children, we will be doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.
"Only now are we beginning to take notice. We need to talk to our children about it and we are grudgingly acknowledging that sweeping it under the carpet is the worst thing to do."
The facts
is 17.
