Durban - Alison Narain loved singing and dancing and hoped to work as a paramedic one day to help save lives.
But the 15-year-old Phoenix girl apparently took her own life on Friday by shooting herself in the forehead with her dad’s revolver.
The shooting has left her family devastated and baffled.
There has been a spate of teen suicides in KwaZulu-Natal recently.
In the 15-24 age group, suicide is the second leading and fastest growing cause of death, according to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag).
It says 9% of all teen deaths in South Africa are due to suicide and this figure is on the increase.
Alison’s uncle, Kenneth Narain, said her death was like their “joy being silenced”.
“Alison was taken from us to be with God. The joy she brought to each of us has been silenced. Everyone she met was warmed by her laughter and bubbly enthusiasm for life. She loved singing and dancing from a young age and hoped to be a paramedic one day.
“Right now our family does not know the reason behind what had happened; we are trying to find out. It is a very difficult time for her parents, as she was the eldest of two daughters.
"They are still trying to come to terms with their loss and have taken her death very hard,” he said. “However, her smile and humour will continue to guide us each day.”
Narain urged parents to pay more attention to their children. “Parents should listen twice as much as they speak to their kids. Show compassion and guide them in knowing you will do everything to help solve the problem.”
Alison was a Grade 10 pupil at Crystal Point Secondary School.
School principal Sagie Moodley described her as a respectful child, but also very bubbly, with many friends.
“She was very well-behaved and did not have any troubles academically. She was a good child. Her death is a great and sad loss.
“My advice to parents is to be good listeners and ask questions; even if the child does not show the signs, always ask how was their day and if there was anything troubling them,” he said.
“The children may be afraid to talk out of fear of upsetting or angering their parents, but parents need to reassure them that even if they get angry, they are there to listen and offer advice.”
According to a police source, Alison was rushed to hospital where she died. The source said police were told there was no safe for the firearm.
Police confirmed that an inquest docket is being investigated, as well as a charge of failure to safeguard a firearm.
Alison’s death comes after several other teen suicides in recent months.
In March a 16-year-old boy was found hanging from a rafter in the bedroom of his home in Cottonlands, near Verulam.
The 16-year-old daughter of a Phoenix pastor was found hanging in her home.
A 12-year-old primary school pupil hanged herself with a coat belt in Pietermaritzburg.
Sadag’s development manager, Roshni Parbhoo, said efforts to build understanding about why young people kill themselves was vital in preventing suicide.
“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Kids need to understand there are people who can help.
“It occurs within all classes and cultures and, for prevention efforts to be most effective, both adults and the youth need to learn about what leads to suicide - and how to prevent the preventable,” she said.
Glen Naidoo, operations director of security company KZN VIP, said he would be engaging with various stakeholders to offer student guidance counselling sessions.
“It is sad that our teenagers are turning to suicide to resolve their problems. With the economy in tatters and both parents working to keep the home fires burning, there is very little time for real family time,” he said.
“There has been countless requests for the formation of a place where people can vent their problems and get professional help. We will be working on forming a committee.”
A suicide prevention meeting is scheduled to take place at the House of Foundation Church at 85 Longbury Drive, Phoenix, on July 4 at 6pm.
“We’ve arranged for all volunteers to meet and urge those who want to get involved to join us. We will try to set up a committee to see this project through and be engaging with schools to make classrooms available for student guidance counselling sessions.”