Gauteng – A Grade 7 learner from Avanté Primary School in Randfontein allegedly committed suicide on Thursday, October 6, after counselling sessions at his school.
According to a media statement, the 12-year-old learner had been prescribed the sessions after concerns emanated over his well-being.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane urged learners to use the schools’ support systems in place.
“Our deepest sympathies to the family, and school community at large for their loss. As the Department, we are shattered by this incident. We call upon learners who may be experiencing personal difficulties to reach out to our support systems that are readily available at their schools,” he said.
MEDIA STATEMENT: @EducationGP1 MEC Mr @matomekopano is saddened by the death of a Grade 7 boy learner (12) from Avanté Primary School in Randfontein who allegedly committed suicide Thursday, 6 October 2022. The MEC will be visiting the learner’s family today. pic.twitter.com/TEbV9VmG46
— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) October 14, 2022
According to the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP), almost one in 10 teenage deaths in South Africa every year are the result of suicide. Up 20% of high school learners have tried to take their own lives.
“According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), depression is globally the third highest disease burden amongst adolescents, and suicide the second leading cause of death in 15- to 29-year-olds, while the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) states that 9% of teenage deaths in the country are due to suicide,” SASOP said.
It added: “The 2011 Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (YRBS) found that a quarter of grade 8-11 learners across all South Africa’s provinces had felt so sad or hopeless that they couldn’t engage in their usual daily activities for two weeks or more. More than one in six had either thought about suicide, made plans to commit suicide, or attempted it at least once in the past six months.
“This suggests a large proportion of teenagers are suffering from mental and emotional health problems. The youth are the future of our country and we need to act to prevent the devastating consequences of them losing their hope for the future.”
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Pixabay
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
