Janine Shamos, a teacher who is spokeswoman for the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag), said publishing matric results in newspapers did not lead to suicide.

According to Sadag 9.5% of all teenage deaths every year are suicides.

"Each year we hear stories of how people have killed themselves because there was a mistake in the paper," Shamos said.

"The most important thing is that parents and children should ascertain their results from their schools."

Shamos said attention had to be paid to candidates who had problems.

"People who kill themselves usually have (underlying) problems such as a death or an illness in the family," Shamos explained.

She said it was important that teenagers be told that there were options such as supplementary examinations and rewriting.

"We put too much pressure on matric pupils and, at the end of the day, it is just an exam," Shamos said.

She said the danger signs to look out for include times when teenagers are acting out of character, including when:

• They do not wish to be with friends;
• They throw tantrums; and
• They get drunk.

Shamos said during such times parents, friends, relatives and teachers needed to "talk to them and show them that the situation is not hopeless, and that talking can be the difference between life and death".

For more information or assistance, Sadag can be contacted on (011) 262-6396, (080) 056-7567 or SMS 31393. They are open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm. Also visit www.sadag.co.za

Comments

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Wed Jun 19 23:25:52 SAST 2013 ::

Jan 5, 2012

Noir19

Parent are depressed as well , they sent all their money in Dec now is time to cough-up for school fees
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Jan 5, 2012

Mthokxxx

Lol, actually they should beat the hell out these playing kids. U cant afford to send your kid to school, instead of studying, she's busy with boys, aowa!
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Jan 5, 2012

MOTHUBANNYO

Children should learn to accept defeat or failing in this regard cos they did not study when they had to so life goes on.
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Jan 5, 2012

RobinH

"People who k il l themselves usually have (underlying) problems such as a death or an illness in the family," That's one helluva assumption coming from someone who should know a whole lot better. Most suicides are the result of depression, and dear Ms Shamos, your comment is just ridiculously simplistic. At this time I don't think there is much doubt that a matriculant's suicide would be a result of failing matric, NOT some arbitrary thing like a death in the family. Not a very helpful statement at all! If I were to judge by your remarks here, you would be the last person I would suggest a depressed person contact.
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Jan 5, 2012

BaleliM

Why being suicidal? if you partied, never studied, how do you become depressed knowing very well that you did nothing in class? Flipping cowards who can't face up to their doings.
whilst you are suicidal, leave funeral money pls. it is expensive you know!!
(ok, am being heartless)
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Jan 5, 2012

LoveGuru

Why children of this days are so spoiled and want to be spoonfed ? I mean people did fail in early 70s,80s and never commited suicide but now. This life is something else.
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