Students reeling from campus suicide

South African men in particular are being encouraged to seek counselling for depression.

Students and staff members at the University of Pretoria were left shocked after witnessing a third-year male student plunge to his death at the Hatfield campus yesterday.

The incident comes five weeks after Accounting lecturer Danny Nortjé-Rossouw, 44, jumped off the Humanities building of the same campus on 30 July.

Brooklyn police said they were investigating an inquest into the death, but did not suspect any foul play.

According to Tshwane emergency services spokesman Johan Pieterse, there were students who could do nothing but watch the student take his life just after 8am yesterday. "We received a call from someone following the jump by the adult male from the twenty-first floor. The victim was declared dead on the scene," said Pieterse.

A student who can’t to be named, as management instructed they not speak to the media, said he was attending a sociology class in the Humanties building when the incident happened.

He said fellow students who witnessed or learned of the suicide were "reeling in shock".

Said the town and regional planning student: "They couldn't believe someone took their own life as they were walking by the building or sitting in class in the same building that someone took his life from".

"Management should do something to tackle depression on campus, because it seems to affect both staff and students. They also need to do something to prevent the building from being used when people are feeling hopeless."

Another student who found students and staff outside the building said they were shocked and dismayed that a second suicide had taken place at the same building in such a short space of time.

"We are all concerned," she said. "I feel that more security measures can be placed to prevent such incidents. However ultimately, the university cannot prevent  unforeseen deaths such as this."

While she was aware of free counselling services available at the student services department, the student said the university had cut costs down in order to "pump funds into academic excellence".

Student Representative Council president Enwee Human said they were saddened by the news of the suicide, referring to both suicides as a "real blow" to the institution and SRC.

The student representative body is launching an awareness campaign of student support services available for students on campus this morning.

Though Human acknowledged the "fantastic" efforts made by the university's security services, he expressed their concern about safety of staff and students, specifically at that building.

"We will be advocating for the increase of safety measures in and around our buildings," said Human.

Though she could not disclose further details regarding the incident, University spokesman Nicolize Mulder said trauma counselling was available for all affected staff and students.

Students took their reactions to social networks after news of the suicide broke.

One @aqsaNess shared her support for those who felt suicidal, saying: "Dear Tuks Students/Lecturers, Suicide is Never the answer, Stop Jumping off the HSB. Sincerely, I'm here If you need to talk #TuksSuicide".

An emotional @Rih_Rih22 tweeted: "This suicide thing happening at Tuks is starting to scare me now, like what is going on?"

@Sweez91 considered the timeline of events, and pointed out: "But to commit suicide at 8am... This person didn't sleep... #TuksSuicide".

This is the fourth suicide in Pretoria in less than two months.

• According to the SA Depression and Anxiety Group, there are currently 23 suicides in the country on a daily basis, with a further 230 attempts every 24 hours.

An estimated 11% of non-natural deaths in the country are due to suicide. This results in about 8 000 suicide deaths in South Africa every year.

SADAG's Cassey Chambers said the organisation has seen an increase in the number of calls, e-mails and SMSes from people who feel "helpless, hopeless and more depressed".

She attributed the number of enquiries to an increase in the awareness of depression, which encourages people to come forward and seek help.

"The increase can also be due to the fact that people are experiencing more problems today than many years ago.

"There is an increase in unemployment, poverty and chronic illness, divorces and family breakdowns, violence and traumatic events, relationship issues, et cetera," Chambers said.

Though more women were diagnosed with depression than men, Chamber said this didn't mean that men don't suffer from depression – only that women were more likely to seek help and treatment for their depression than men.

While women were more likely to attempt suicide, there are five men who commit suicide for every one women who takes her own life.

Added Chambers: "Women are more comfortable with talking about their emotions and problems, and therefore more comfortable to seek help. Men don’t like talking about it or seeking help, until it is too late, especially in South Africa where men are brought up with the motto that 'Cowboys don’t cry'."

For free telephonic counselling and referrals, contact SADAG on 0800 70 80 90 or 0800 12 13 14 or SMS 31393 or visit www.sadag.org