It is disheartening to confront the reality that teenage suicide has become all too common in South Africa. Ranked among the top three causes of adolescent deaths, it's a reminder of the deep-seated societal pressures our youth grapple with. Each case isn't just a statistic, but shines the spotlight on a much larger issue we can no longer afford to ignore.
SA's children are lacking in the skills to deal with life's daily challenges.
One of the culprits in this suicide pandemic is the pervasive influence of social media. Despite its many benefits, social media evolved into a double-edged sword. It bombards children with a relentless stream of seemingly filtered, perfect lives and unattainable standards. Caught in this virtual whirlwind, our teenagers are left feeling more isolated and hopeless than ever before. The gap between the online façade and reality only widens, putting unrealistic pressures on them.
Amid all of this, the crucial role of schools and parents in this narrative cannot be denied, but sadly, even those two pockets fail to provide teens with the skills they need to cope.
When it comes to teachers, the school environment has changed greatly over the years, with the traditional disciplinary methods being taken away and teachers finding themselves shackled, unable to provide the guidance and support our children desperately need.
When it comes to parenting, they too face pressure to embrace a 'modern' parenting approach, but this too has many times left children ill-equipped to cope with life's challenges.
The recent tragedies at the Eqinisweni Secondary School in Ivory Park, Gauteng, where four pupils allegedly died by suicide within days, serve as a chilling wake-up call.
Two of the pupils — Thembi Lubisi and Ananisa Morupeng — were in a romantic relationship. The reasons behind the suicides of the couple remain unclear, with Lubisi's mother dismissing rumours she was pregnant.
But each of these incidents is more than a mere statistic. Behind them lies a tale of anguish, desperation and the inability to see beyond a challenge that presents itself.
We cannot allow the stories of the 'Ivory Park Four' to fade into the background like so many others we have seen in the past.
Just a few years ago, the nation was up in arms over the death of Lufuno Mavhunga from Mbilwi Secondary School in Limpopo, who committed suicide after a video of her being bullied and beaten made the rounds on social media.
In 2022, we heard of Tiro Moalusi — a grade 9 pupil at PJ Simelane Secondary School in Soweto, Gauteng, who committed suicide allegedly after being mocked by a teacher for being gay.
Relationships, sexuality, cyberbullying — these are all factors that shouldn't be leading to young lives cut short. Yet, time and again, we see these issues go unaddressed, leaving our children without the necessary coping mechanisms to navigate life's complexities.
Speaking to TimesLIVE Premium, education psychologist Dr Ken Resnick said: “We are overprotecting our children and not equipping them with life skills. What is happening today is that these children are impulsive and ... it becomes part of their personality as they get older. Now we have children who want instant gratification and are bullies who aren’t taught empathy.”
Relationships, sexuality, cyberbullying — these are all factors that shouldn't be leading to young lives cut short. Yet, time and again, we see these issues go unaddressed, leaving our children without the necessary coping mechanisms to navigate life's complexities.
In an effort to end this, schools must receive the support and resources they need to help children build resilience and emotional intelligence from an early age. Psychosocial support shouldn't be an afterthought — it should be integrated into every aspect of our children's education.
Moreover, we must break down the stigma surrounding mental health and ensure our children always have access to the help they need, when they need it most.
Earlier this year, shortly after marking Teenage Suicide Prevention Week, the government rightly pointed out that overcoming the challenge of teenage suicide also relies on the cumulative efforts of parents, friends, families and faith organisations to play an active role by listening to children with empathy, kindness and taking their challenges seriously.
We've seen how failing to do so has resulted in deadly consequences.
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