Johannesburg - In the wake of 14-year-old Klara Göttert’s suicide, the teenager’s family have called on parents to make an effort to see what’s going on in their children’s hearts.
In a radio interview, Klara’s mother Liesl Göttert urged parents to “open their eyes, ears and hearts and try to see everything”.
“The smallest little cue can be the difference between life and death. There are no second chances.”
Göttert said a combination of circumstances had led to her daughter’s suicide.
“Friendships, school work and pressures that our children deal with on a daily basis. I just hope parents take heed,” she said.
Klara’s aunt, Yolande de Klerk, said on Wednesday that the family were shocked and saddened.
“How can it be that last week she was sketching away in her sketch book, loving her kung fu? Now we’re talking about her suicide, her diary and funeral arrangements. It’s all so unreal,” she said.
De Klerk said her niece was a kind and gentle soul.
Klara was reported missing on Tuesday afternoon when she didn’t return from school. According to police, her body was found around 8pm on Tuesday at Northgate Mall after she allegedly jumped off a high point at the shopping centre.
In another teen suicide earlier this month, a 17-year-old pupil from Welkom Technical High School pupil hanged himself in his parents’ garage.
He was apparently ridiculed and mocked on social media after allegedly being forced to apologise in front of his school for copying classmates during June exams.
In an article on its website, the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) said the suicide rate for children aged 10 to 14 has more than doubled in the past 15 years.
* Sadag can be contacted 24 hours a day at 0800 567567.
The Star