The high suicide frequency rate in South Africa could be turned around if more focus and resources were directed at improving access to health services
One day on which to focus on suicide prevention ‒ especially among high-risk youth and men ‒ was not enough, warned University of KwaZulu-Natal experts.
In the run-up to this Tuesday’s World Suicide Prevention Day, the World Health Organization released some “staggering” statistics.
It said than 726 000 people took their lives every year, more made unsuccessful suicide attempts, and the prevalence was greater among youths.
The WHO’s research, released last month, showed that suicide was the third leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds globally in 2021. It was a serious health problem that occurred in high-income countries, but was more prevalent in low and middle-income nations, which accounted for 73% of the global count in that year.
Rethabile Oliphant, a counselling psychologist and student counsellor with the UKZN said: “World Suicide Prevention Day is a good thing, but a day is not enough”.
Oliphant said the high suicide frequency rate in South Africa could be turned around if more focus and resources were directed at improving access to health services.
He also noted there was an improvement in suicide education initiatives but more programmes were required.
Oliphant identified mental health challenges as a key contributing factor to people ending their lives.
He said two of the biggest worldwide issues causing people to commit suicide were depression and anxiety.
“When depression goes untreated and people continuously endure difficult times they tend to believe that ending their lives is the only way to relief.”
He said society’s awareness of mental health related issues had become more pronounced, especially in the last decade, and more people realised it needed more attention.
He said a promising sign was the increased number of people talking about their mental health and indicating they needed help.
He said that many people were able to access good mental health assistance privately, if they were connected to a public institution like a university, or accessed public sources like Lifeline and the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag).
“Reaching people outside urban areas with mental health needs was a real challenge.”
Oliphant said studies did not reveal a particular slant towards a race group being suicidal, but there was good information on it regarding sex.
“There is a better likelihood that more women would report mental health challenges and seek help.
“However, more women may attempt suicide or self harm than men. But the biggest difference is that men are more likely to die because they use much more deadly methods with weapons and hanging.”
He explained that the issue of masculinity, especially men feeling comfortable enough to reach out for help, was a challenge.
“It is a very complex discussion. Learning how to navigate masculinity is a very important part of helping men with their mental health.
“As the captain of the ship, men have a sense of responsibility to care and think about others before themselves.
“The captain has to pretend sometimes and to not make a situation as bad as it is because they don’t want the others to freak out, even though they might be doing that quietly on the inside,” he said.
“But it’s okay for guys to ask for help,” Oliphant emphasised.
On helping students at campus with their mental health challenges, Oliphant said they were about to start a project ‒ a first of its kind online activation to do with the relationship or connection between suicide and gender.
“Much of the focus will be discussing and unpacking the connection between masculinities and suicide and localising it.”
Oliphant said their focus would be KZN, and Zulu-speaking men, given the dynamics of the province.
“We are going for a very different sort of visual experience as a webinar, something that invites conversation and discussion, with the idea that we want to partner and collaborate with other groups on campus about similar things.
“Students love relationships. So we are saying... you want to have relationships, we are saying let’s identify the mental health issues that make it difficult to have those relationships and in the process we can address your mental health issues.”
Dr Margot Freedman, college of law and management-student support services at UKZN, said mental wellness programmes targeting youth was of great importance.
Freedman said research showed a crisis in mental health in student populations and there was a huge treatment gap: 66% to 77% of students had common mental health disorders that were not being treated.
“Suicide and mental health are linked to trauma. Trauma is linked to a person’s socio-economic status ‒ although not directly, but one is more vulnerable when you come from a disadvantaged community where you are more exposed to violence, violent crimes, GBH, and diseases like HIV etc.”
Freedman said while the lack of resources could lead to possible suicide, it did occur in all other groupings of society.
She described suicide as something that people battled to understand and left much pain and hurt in its wake. Yet help was available, which made it more tragic.
“Often people don’t want to end their life as they know it. They have this misperception that others will be better without them.”
She said the WHO’s stats on suicide were alarming and in SA a lot was under-reported because of the stigma and numerous self-inflicted deaths.
“Life is harder as there are massive financial pressures in bad economic times.”
Another contributing factor she singled out was the growth of social media platforms.
“Facebook and Instagram give the perception that everyone has this beautiful and happy life. Adolescents especially don’t feel happy about themselves and feel more stressed when they realise they don’t fit the template.”
Freedman also noticed that people did not connect with each other in meaningful ways.
“Like having a cup of tea together, taking leisurely walks or even socialising face to face with someone.”
24-hour toll-free emergency Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0800 567 567 or visit https://www.sadag.org/ for more information.
Lifeline National Counselling Line: 0861 322 322 or lifelinesa.co.za