Suicide Is Never The Answer

Most teens often feel overwhelmed by the pressures of their lives and resort to taking their own lives.

- Bonolo Modise

THOMAS Ndlovu* (13) recently started high school. He has always struggled with self confidence because of the acne on his face. It doesn't help that his parents are also going through a divorce and he is still trying to come to terms with the fact that he will no longer be living with both parents. He also came to the realisation that he chose a school subject he is not coping with and as a result, he is struggling to cope with life. Thomas could not take it anymore and wrote a suicide note as he thought that ending his life would be the best way to solve his problems. Fortunately, his parents took him for counselling before he could harm himself.

WHY DO TEENAGERS COMMIT SUICIDE?

Child and family therapist in private practice, Barbara Lancaster, says there are multiple factors that can lead a teenager down the path of suicide. These can include: 

1. Hormonal changes: During adolescence, you go through a lot of hormonal changes, which can affect you and your body in various ways, you may often think that you are the only person going through these changes and as a result, you feel alone and ashamed to talk about them.