ACDP says Teenage Suicide Week is a horrible reality check · Survey is cause for concern with alarming number of teens depressed & suicidal

PRESS RELEASE
12 February 2013

ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley said today:

“Teenage Suicide Week comes as a horrible reality-check and is useful in drawing attention to the findings of the National Youth Risk Survey which shows alarming numbers of high school teens have been depressed and suicidal.”

Children as young as 7 years old have committed suicide in South Africa, and statistically speaking, for every one fatal suicide, there are 20 other suicide attempts.

“The ACDP applauds work being done by SADAG, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group in the prevention of suicides, particularly teenage suicide.  The group has a programme implemented in schools across the country educating teens and teachers about suicide prevention.  The programme which empowers youth to take responsibility for their wellbeing has been enormously successful.

“It is very important for people, especially young people to understand that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem”.
The group recommend that parents take warning signs seriously.  This could mean: when they talk or joke about suicide, show signs of depression, an apparent preparation for death or writing goodbye notes, when they uncharacteristically give away prized possessions, exhibit drastic changes in sleeping and eating habits or a loss of interest in appearance, if they indulge in risk-taking behaviour and particularly when they are seen to be suddenly feeling better after suffering severe depressive episodes.

According to Prof Lourens Schlebusch, an expert on suicidal behaviour, at the Clinic in Behavioural Medicine in Durban, suicidal behaviour is a process; the person thinks about it, let’s go of the idea, then thinks about it more, then it takes a small event to push someone over the edge. By the time they've done it, they have been contemplating it for a while."
Guilt, self-blame and "what-ifs" are constant companions for thousands of parents who have lost a child as a result of suicide – it is absolutely essential for parents to get help and receive counselling after a child commits suicide.  The group also stress the importance of talking about problems and the need for families to be open and accepting so that children feel safe and confident enough to share.

Experts say people who commit suicide are neither weak nor selfish nor does it denote mere "attention seeking".  SADAG emphasises that such a desperate cry for help is not equivalent to wanting attention.
SADAG will be hosting Facebook Friday chats on 15 February at 1pm with psychologist, Dianne Mallaby, and 7pm with psychologist Joanna Klevoulou and SADAG Trainer, Janine Shamos, on Teen Depression and how to help someone who you think may be suicidal.

Toll-free helplines on  0800 567 567

SMS service - 31393

Both answered swiftly and compassionately by compassionate counsellors

The ACDP calls on the Minister of Social Development to ensure that attention is given to suicide prevention and that necessary budget is made available to ensure the good work being done is expanded and sustainable.