Communities need to tackle the rise in child and teen suicide through open conversations

TAKE THREATS SERIOUSLY

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AS COMMUNITIES grapple with the heartbreaking reality of child and teen suicide, one truth stands out: prevention begins long before a crisis. It begins in homes, classrooms and friendships, in everyday conversations that tell a child: “you matter. You are safe. I am listening.”

Safety is extremely important. Child and adolescent suicide is rarely about one single event. It is usually the result of overwhelming emotional pain combined with a feeling of isolation. When a young person believes they are alone in their struggle, whether it is bullying, pregnancy, academic pressure, family conflict, trauma, or gender and sexuality concerns, the risk increases dramatically.

The most powerful protective factor, research consistently shows, is connection. Just one safe, accepting adult can change the trajectory of a child’s life. Even if you never had this type of adult in your life, you can be one.

Organisations such as the South African Depression and Anxiety Group and Childline KZN have emphasised that many young people struggled quietly for months before anyone noticed. Warning signs are often subtle: withdrawal from friends, changes in sleep or appetite, giving away prized possessions, sudden hopelessness, increased irritability, or talking about feeling like a burden. These signs are sometimes dismissed as “normal teenage behaviour”, but they should never be ignored.

So what should parents be doing?