“Suicide Shouldn’t be a Secret” School Talk and Teacher Workshop Programme

The programme addressed high rates of suicidal ideation among teens by educating learners on depression, bullying, and coping skills. It simultaneously empowered educators to identify at-risk youth and manage mental health challenges within the classroom. Key activities included on-site counselling, access to 24-hour toll-free crisis lines, and collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Education to reach high-risk schools. Over 15,000 high school learners and 591 educators across 16 different schools benefitted from this initiative. The project exceeded its initial reach targets and facilitated a direct life-saving intervention when a counsellor identified and assisted a learner during a suicide attempt on the day of a school visit. SADAG also used this period to develop a standardised research questionnaire to better evaluate and improve future mental health interventions. The initiative received formal recognition from the Gauteng MEC for Education and continues to see a high daily demand for its services from schools and tertiary institutions needing urgent mental health support.