Pupil suicide agony for mom

AN inconsolable Pietermaritzburg mother yesterday regretted taking home her son’s report card which led to his suicide.

The 15-year-old Northdale pupil was found hanging in his room hours after learning he had failed his Grade 10 examinations.

“I keep asking myself why he took his own life. I can’t stop asking myself what would have happened if I he had not seen the report yesterday [Monday]. I can’t stop wondering why my son did this. He was such a lovely child. I never thought he would do something like this,” the mother, who did want to not be named, said.

She joins thousands of South African mothers who year on year search frantically for answers as to why their teenagers choose suicide.

The weeping mother said it was harder for her to understand what was going through her son’s mind before he took his own life, because he had previously failed a grade.

“I cut the rope and I held his body in my arms. We rushed him to hospital but it was too late.”

South African Depression and Anxiety Group spokeswoman Janine Shamos said at least 5 000 teenagers committed suicide in South Africa annually.

The recent National Youth Risk Survey revealed that 9.5% of all teen deaths in South Africa were a result of suicide.

“Suicide is a big problem, with many reasons for it. One in 10 deaths among teenagers is due to suicide. Failing school is the major cause of teenagers taking their own lives,” Shamos said.

She said parents should pay attention to their children around this time of the year, when school results were released.

Parents should look out for behaviour changes in their children, like withdrawal and the use of drugs or hanging out with peers who used drugs.

“Most importantly, parents have to ask their children how they feel or encourage them to speak to someone they feel comfortable around. There is help out there to deal with suicidal teenagers, and parents have to assist,” Shamos said.