Call for tighter poison rules following 4 suicides in one school

Teddy Bear Foundation Director, Dr Shaheda Omar, says the suicide of four pupils from the same Gauteng high school is a clear indication of young people losing control of their emotions.

All the learners allegedly consumed poison, within the space of 10 days.

Three of them died at medical facilities, whilst a fourth Grade 11 girl learner was found dead at home by her parents.

Speaking to YNews, Omar says the learners could have been going through a depressive state and saw suicide as the only way out.

The alleged suicides happened between April 26 and May 5.

The victims, a Grade 10 girl, a Grade 11 girl, a Grade 11 boy and a Grade 12 girl, all attended Eqinisweni Secondary School in Ivory Park in Johannesburg.

Omar says the first suicide incident may have triggered the other learners to also kill themselves.

Shaheda says social media could’ve also played a role in the decisions that the young people made.

She believes that these platforms have desensitised the public about the tragicness of suicide.

It is understood that one of the girls posted a TikTok video, hours before her death, in which she urged people to appreciate each other as tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.

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Omar says it’s devastating to see children resorting to such tragic decisions.

According to the latest statistics by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), 9% of all teen deaths in the country are caused by suicide.

The group says the majority of young people who take their lives are young women between 15 to 19 years.

According to SADAG, depression and suicide can go hand in hand.

Omar says discussions need to be had with young people about the effects of suicide.

She says many facets of society need to come together to find ways to minimise the scourge.

Omar also expressed concern over the easy accessibility of poison to young people.

She says government needs to put better measures and regulations in place to prohibit children getting their hands on any kind of poison.