Durban — A mental health specialist said the suicide statistics among the youth both locally and abroad are alarming and making early prevention and promotion is essential.
Natasha Freemantle, a children’s mental health specialist amid the World Suicide Prevention Day which is on September 10, said half of all adult mental health problems have origins before the age of 14, and 75% by age 24.
She said the World Health Organization states that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in older adolescents (15 to 19 years).
Freemantle said parents and caregivers had a fundamentally formative influence over the development of their children and future generations.
“As parents or primary caregivers, we have a fundamentally formative influence over the development of our children, and future generations, most notably in terms of their sense of security, their resilience and their self-confidence. These are all key aspects to mental well-being and the prevention of suicidal thoughts,” she said.
Freemantle said when we talk about a child’s mental well-being, we refer to a child’s subjective experience of psychological, emotional, and social well-being, and their sense of satisfaction with themselves as people and the quality of life they are leading.
Furthermore, she said children face a lot of challenges while they navigate modern life, making the need for support and open communication critical.
“This, in turn, will give us a better chance of keeping our children safe from suicidal thoughts and behaviour,” said Freemantle.
She added that children learnt by observation, they discover what matters in life by watching what parents do. What parents focus on influences what children pay attention to.
Freemantle said parents and caregivers should be mindful of the following:
- how we look after our own physical health.
- what coping strategies we use in times of stress.
- how we talk to/about ourselves.
- focusing on the positive more than the negative.
- always showing gratitude.
- how we treat and speak to/about others.
“By changing our behaviour and shifting our attention to living a better life that supports mental well-being, we not only change the future for our children, but we ourselves will be happier, healthier and more resilient. This is the ultimate win-win situation,” Freemantle said.
Daily News