An increasing number of children, some as young as six, are either attempting or committing suicide in South Africa.
This is just one of the shock findings from research into South African suicide trends.
At least one suicide is committed every hour in South Africa, and 20 more unsuccessful attempts are made in the same time span.
Suicide has risen 48 percent over the past 10 years in South Africa, and one third of all non-fatal attempts were recorded among children.
Experts say crimes of passion are also on the rise.
Speaking to The Mercury on Friday, World Suicide
Prevention Day, Professor Lourens Schlebusch, the Head of Behavioural Medicine at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, said crimes of passion and stalking suicides were also increasing.
"We are seeing more extended suicides, where the person kills a loved one and then themself.
"We are also beginning to see more suicidal behaviour relating to stalking. This seems to be more common among adults from 35 downwards who can't deal with the consequences of dysfunctional relationships," said Schlebusch.
"There has also been a steep drop in the age of people committing and attempting suicide.
"At the moment, the average age is 36, but we are beginning to see children as young as 10 successfully commit suicide, and attempts by those as young as six," he said.
Schlebusch said it was difficult to obtain accurate, reliable statistics on "crimes of passion", but that judging from the available research and media reports, these crimes were
"visibly increasing".
South African studies have revealed that up to 7,8 percent of schoolchildren had attempted suicide, and about four percent have discussed suicide with their counsellors, he said.
"Children often believe that death is reversible. We find they mainly overdose on household poisons, while older adults use more aggressive methods.
"We often miss depression in children, and parents should be alert to any change to normal behaviour. Children also often convert their stress into physical signs, like more
complaints of tummy aches, and so on.
"Children need to be taught conflict resolution skills from an early age, as well as how to deal with life's pressures," Schlebusch said.
Research indicates that roughly 10 percent of all unnatural deaths in South Africa are suicide-related.
Schlebusch said the "problem" in South Africa had been considered serious enough to host the next international conference on suicide at Durban's ICC next year.
Suicidal behaviour Patterns in South Africa
- Nearly five times more males than females commit suicide.
- Suicides occur in the younger age groups (15-34 years old).
- Up to 8 000 South Africans commit suicide annually.
- The youngest suicide fatality in 2001 was 10 years old, but more fatal suicides occurred in the 15-19 age group.
- Firearms, hanging and poison ingestion were found to be the most common methods of suicide in South Africa.
According to the World Health Organisation, in South Africa hanging accounted for 36,2 percent, followed closely by shooting (35 percent), poisoning (9,8 percent), gassing (6,5 percent) and burning (4,1 percent).
- Among victims, those aged 10-34 mainly used hanging, 25-29 used poison, burning and jumping, 30-34 used firearms, and 40-44 opted for gassing