Suicide prevention among learners in the Northern Free State schools : the views of the youth at risk

Abstract

Key words: Suicide, suicide behaviour, suicide ideation, suicide intervention, suicide among youth, youth at risk of suicide, suicide, mental health in learners, mental health in schools. The main aim of this study was to investigate strategies for suicide prevention as perceived by youth at schools in the Northern Free State. This was an explorative qualitative research which employed to data collection strategies: draw and write technique and structured interviews. A literature conducted revealed key aspects: that suicide can be prevented especially if symptoms are detected early; the school is strategically positioned to implement universal and selected intervention programmes, 1. an alliance and synergy with the parents, community members and external stakeholders, 2. mental health policy and 3. Gatekeeper training underpin mental health promotion and reduction of suicide incidences in schools, and that there are currently no suicide- specific curriculum-based programmes to educate learners about suicide in South Africa. Selection of sites was purposefully done as all five participating schools were in an area where .youth were at risk first because of socio-economic conditions they lived under and secondly, due to the fact that some had attempted suicide and some considered killing themselves. The study revealed that participants were aware of the causes and means of committing suicide. They had personal experiences of suicide behaviour, some had family history of completed and attempted suicides. They proposed several strategies to deal with suicide in schools comprising those of: enhancing social support and faith- based strategies reducing stress, early identification of learners at risk and education awareness programmes. A framework was developed to integrate all the interventions recommended by participants into a single eco systemic model. It recommends methods of prevention and medication at various eco systemic levels