Man jumps to death from fifth floor

A man died after jumping off at Sanders Mansion, a block of flats in Yeoville, Johannesburg, on Monday morning, the third such incident in the CBD this month.473 Picture: Matthews Baloyi 2014/12/22

A man died after jumping off at Sanders Mansion, a block of flats in Yeoville, Johannesburg, on Monday morning, the third such incident in the CBD this month.473 Picture: Matthews Baloyi 2014/12/22

Published Dec 23, 2014

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Johannesburg - It’s supposedly the season for joyful merriment, but for many South African families, the festive season is a time of depression and sorrow.

This is according to experts following the suicide of a man in his thirties who jumped from a block of flats in Yeoville – the third such incident in Joburg this month, Emergency Management Services said.

The man jumped from the fifth floor of Sanders Mansion and died of multiple injuries.

“The cause of his jump is still unknown but the relevant authorities are investigating,” EMS spokesman Robert Mulaudzi said.

And while the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) said it was a myth that more people committed suicide during the festive season and that people became aware of the high rates only because they got more coverage in the news, it was still a lonely time for many people.

“There are 230 attempted suicides every day in the country and 23 completed suicides. On average, we get 400 calls a day at our call centre from people who are depressed or lonely,” Sadag spokeswoman Cassey Chambers said.

She said they mostly received calls from the elderly with no family or those with financial problems. “We assume the festive season is a happy time, but for someone else it could be the first Christmas without a loved one who had died the year before. Also there are a number of car accidents during this time, which are very tragic and traumatic. And just generally, this time of year, people feel exhausted.”

Trauma Clean’s Karen Pereira agreed, adding that year-end depression that led to many attempting to commit, or committing, suicide was also caused by many feeling the pressure to take their families on holidays they could not afford. “2014 has been a year of immense hardship for many, both financially and emotionally. It’s not only the holiday that causes the financial stress, but coming home after partying up a storm for the new year ahead, heads of households suddenly find themselves unable to pay the next month’s bond, car repayment, school books and uniforms – the list is endless.”

Pereira’s business specialises in crime-scene cleaning, however, she said they had cleaned up “too many” suicides as a result of financial stress.

“The main thing for people feeling this pressure is to communicate honestly. Suicide can be prevented,” she said.

Chambers encouraged anyone feeling lonely or with depressive thoughts to call Sadag – which will be open throughout the holiday season – on their 24-hour hotline 0800 12 13 14, or SMS 31393 and they will call back. – Additional reporting by Sapa

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