By Nomhle Kangootui, Ruth Kamwi and Terttu Newaka | 18 October 2019

IT IS three years since 12-year-old Serenity April took her own life. Time may have moved on, but her mother Tessa April has not.

Haunted by unanswered questions, Tessa is still struggling to accept her daughter’s death. Her pain is raw as if her daughter died yesterday.

She is not alone in this predicament. Serenity is one of 36 youngsters who committed suicide between 2017 and 2019.

Their parents’ lives were changed forever, as it is hard for them to move on. It’s the anguish of not understanding why the children took their own lives, of not being been able to say goodbye, of having a sense of helplessness.

Some grieving parents still hope to hear the familiar sound of their child coming home from school, or the echo of their laughter as they play outside. They long for one more goodnight hug, or that home-from-school kiss.

A MOTHER’S ANGUISH

Tessa says there were no warning signs ahead of Serenity taking her own life.

The youngster died on 28 April 2016 while on holiday with relatives at Mariental. She was found hanging from the roof of the garage.

Last week, The Namibian accompanied Tessa, who lives in Khomasdal, to Serenity’s grave at Katutura’s Oponganda cemetery in Windhoek.

The walk from the car to the grave seems long, compounded by the silence of her mother, lost in a world of her own.

It is an almost awkwardly tense moment. However, mistakenly reaching a grave not belonging to Serenity breaks the tension.

“Aai, Poplap, are you playing hide and seek with me now?” she exclaims as she realises she is at the wrong grave.

As she cleans her daughter’s grave, Tessa’s feelings spill over.

“The pain is still there, and the questions. But to suppress that, I try not to think about it. I don’t like it when people ask me about it, and that is why I grieve alone and keep it a secret when I feel sad or miss her,” she tells The Namibian.

Her words linger in the stillness of the cemetery, a sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle of the nearby streets.

Life and death exist so close yet so far apart.

“She was so precious, kind and full of love. I still can’t understand why she did it. She was supposed to be a teenager, 15 years by now. My best friend, my partner, is gone,” Tessa says.

“I really miss her, her death was and still is a tragic loss. A few months after her death, I went through severe depression, which led to alcohol abuse,” Tessa confesses.

Since then, she has started to visit her daughter’s resting place more frequently to find closure, but she says it has not been easy.

“At first, I thought coming here would make me sadder because it would remind me of the reality of her suicide. But surprisingly, I started feeling peaceful, although some days are tough. Since then, I’ve started controlling my alcohol consumption and I am working on rebuilding my life,” she adds.

Tessa feels condemned by some community members.

People play a silent blame game.

It is one of the reasons why she has not been open about her grief over the loss of her daughter.

She looks forward to starting a support group for mothers who have lost children through suicide or illness.

DEADLY GAME

Cecilia Mbaha (53) says she still waits for her grandson Kahambue Nyandee Hipose to come home from school.

About three months ago, Kahambue was found hanging from the washing line behind his uncle’s home in Katutura. He was 10 years old.

“I expect that voice to greet me, to ask me for food, and to sing in the house. It is not easy, really,” says Mbaha.

A deadly game in which children are allegedly dared to take their own lives reportedly drove Kahambue to hang himself.

Khomasdal Primary School principal Bonny Matengu told The Namibian that Kahambue and his friends were playing the game before he took his life.

The ‘players’ are allegedly dared to commit suicide after receiving a certain image on their phone.

Another family, who preferred not to be named, suffered a double blow when they lost two children to suicide.

A close family member said although it is nearly five years since they took their own lives, their parents still grieve for them as though it was yesterday.

The children’s ages were not revealed to the newspaper. One committed suicide in 2014, and the other on the same day in 2015.

“This was a heavy blow for them. No parent deserves to go through what they went through, and they are the kindest people I know. We don’t know how to comfort them because we do not understand what they are going through,” the family member empathised.

NATIONAL CRISIS

Namibian Police statistics provided to The Namibian show that 36 children killed themselves from 2017 to 2019, a number described by the education ministry as “tragic and devastating”.

Nationwide, 18 children committed suicide between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019, while a similar number died between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018.

Of the 458 suicides recorded by the police between 2018 and 2019, 10 were young boys and eight were young girls.

Fifteen boys and three girls were among 465 cases of suicide recorded by the police from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018.

While their ages have not been released, the police have classified them as juveniles. Boys topped the suicide statistics, with the highest – four – being recorded in Omusati between April 2018 and March 2019. Between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018, three boys from Omusati also committed suicide, police records show.

Between 2014 and 2015, 28 teenagers died by their own hand – 19 in 2015 and nine in 2014.

‘DEVASTATING’

Education executive director Sanet Steenkamp said the suicides were not only tragic, but also have a far-reaching and devastating impact on those left behind.

She was responding to questions on youth suicides sent to her by The Namibian. Steenkamp cited poverty, poor grades, depression and teenage pregnancies as some of the factors which push Namibian youths to kill themselves.

“The ministry launched the National Safe School Framework, which has an entire section on the response to violence and self-harm. It has a particular focus on how to assess/identify pupils showing signs of suicidal ideation or are at risk, and how to intervene in these cases,” Steenkamp said.

She noted that the framework is supported by the school health programme, which also looks at the psychosocial well-being and mental health of pupils and teachers.

The life skills subject also deals with issues related to mental health, depression in particular.

“The ministry offers counselling services for pupils. In addition to the counselling services provided by the ministry, various organisations provide counselling devices, particularly for young people,” said Steenkamp.

Delaine Sikerete, a project manager at Lifeline/Childline Namibia, said people tend to feel overwhelmed when they reach their teenage years.

“Many teenagers start to go through an identity crisis, feel the need to belong in certain groups or deal with pressure from parents and society, and become overwhelmed with emotions,” she explained.

Sikerete said the organisation receives the highest percentage of calls for help in December, January and September.

“The highest number of suicides happen in the Kavango regions and the north, where teenagers are not taught how to communicate their emotions; do not feel comfortable expressing their emotions; and where parents tend to be harsher,” she said.

Sikerete added that a child’s cultural background also plays a big role. It is important for parents to pay attention to their children and have open conversations with them, she urged.

“Parents should be friends with their children so that they feel comfortable to open up to them.

“We have children as young as seven years old who call and say they were told to call our number when they are feeling down, or if their parents are not around to talk to,” Sikerete noted.

“We also have children who call us because they don’t feel comfortable talking to their parents,” she added.

She thus felt there was a higher number of suicide cases among boys because they often feel uncomfortable expressing their emotions.

SUICIDES THAT SHOCKED NAMIBIA

Some of the suicide cases involving children that the media has reported on:

In March 2018, a 12-year-old boy committed suicide by hanging himself with a piece of cloth at his family home at Lüderitz. The deceased was a Grade 6 pupil at Nautilus Primary School. The incident happened in Area 7. The boy reportedly had some problems at school, and his father sat down with him to discuss the issue on the night of the incident.

In December 2018, 13-year-old Benjamen Shatumbu committed suicide in his mother’s shack at Havana, Windhoek. His mother, Kristofina Sheya, found the teenager hanging in their shack after she had quizzed him about missing chips that were supposed to have been sold. She described her son as one who “always had a short temper”. She said his first attempt at suicide was when he was in Grade 3.

In January, seven-year-old Annastasia Tilomalenga Kampulu’s mother, Anna Oscar, found her hanging from a cupboard with a scarf around her neck at the family’s Walvis Bay home. Oscar said her daughter seemed normal the last time she had seen her alive, adding that on that day, she had played with her friends the whole day. According to the seven-year-old’s family and neighbours, she did not show any signs of depression.

SUICIDAL IDEATION

Psychological counsellor John van der Linde says suicidal ideation [suicidal thoughts] may not always be completely obvious to others, including a child’s parents.

“Part of the reason for it is that children and teens with suicidal thoughts will probably not speak directly about them as an adult might,” he explains.

“Most suicidal youth demonstrate observable behaviour that signals their suicidal thinking,” he adds.

Van der Linde advised that where people – family, friends and/or teachers – close to a distressed child or teenager pick up any signs of depression, they should immediately seek help.

“Never take these warning signs lightly or promise to keep them secret,” Van der Linde cautions.

Factors which increase the risk of suicide among children and teenagers include emotional, physical or sexual abuse; bullying; a history of depression or suicide; parents’ divorce; feelings of social isolation; a previous suicide attempt; and financial challenges.

He noted that suicide is rated as the second-biggest cause of death among school-age youth.

When a young person mentions that they are thinking about suicide, Van der Linde advises, it is important to stay calm; listen without passing judgement; provide constant supervision (by not leaving the child or teenager alone); remove any means of self-harm; and provide assurance that there is help.

*This article was produced by The Namibian’s investigative unit. Send us story tips via your secure email to:

[email protected]

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

1120 COMMENTS

  186. PSL88 Registration in Pakistan – Register with PSL88 using your phone number ⚽️ PSL88 Sign Up ✓ Create an account, get a sign-up bonus, and win – PSL88.co. PSL88.co is not a bookmaker but an independent website offering research-based reviews, news, and information on top bookmakers. At PSL88.co, we do not have any ownership or affiliation with any of the bookmakers listed on our site. We only provide guides and information on cricket betting sites and their services. Another Website: PSL88 PSL88.cc

  187. PSL88 Registration in Pakistan – Register with PSL88 using your phone number ⚽️ PSL88 Sign Up ✓ Create an account, get a sign-up bonus, and win – PSL88.co. PSL88.co is not a bookmaker but an independent website offering research-based reviews, news, and information on top bookmakers. At PSL88.co, we do not have any ownership or affiliation with any of the bookmakers listed on our site. We only provide guides and information on cricket betting sites and their services. Another Website: PSL88 PSL88.cc

  188. PSL88 Registration in Pakistan – Register with PSL88 using your phone number ⚽️ PSL88 Sign Up ✓ Create an account, get a sign-up bonus, and win – PSL88.co. PSL88.co is not a bookmaker but an independent website offering research-based reviews, news, and information on top bookmakers. At PSL88.co, we do not have any ownership or affiliation with any of the bookmakers listed on our site. We only provide guides and information on cricket betting sites and their services. Another Website: PSL88 PSL88.cc

  189. PSL88 Registration in Pakistan – Register with PSL88 using your phone number ⚽️ PSL88 Sign Up ✓ Create an account, get a sign-up bonus, and win – PSL88.co. PSL88.co is not a bookmaker but an independent website offering research-based reviews, news, and information on top bookmakers. At PSL88.co, we do not have any ownership or affiliation with any of the bookmakers listed on our site. We only provide guides and information on cricket betting sites and their services. Another Website: PSL88 PSL88.cc

  190. PSL88 Registration in Pakistan – Register with PSL88 using your phone number ⚽️ PSL88 Sign Up ✓ Create an account, get a sign-up bonus, and win – PSL88.co. PSL88.co is not a bookmaker but an independent website offering research-based reviews, news, and information on top bookmakers. At PSL88.co, we do not have any ownership or affiliation with any of the bookmakers listed on our site. We only provide guides and information on cricket betting sites and their services. Another Website: PSL88 PSL88.cc

  195. PSL88 Registration in Pakistan – Register with PSL88 using your phone number ⚽️ PSL88 Sign Up ✓ Create an account, get a sign-up bonus, and win – PSL88.co. PSL88.co is not a bookmaker but an independent website offering research-based reviews, news, and information on top bookmakers. At PSL88.co, we do not have any ownership or affiliation with any of the bookmakers listed on our site. We only provide guides and information on cricket betting sites and their services. Another Website: PSL88 PSL88.cc

  196. Nguyễn Duy Hải hay còn được gọi là ( Nguyễn Hải SEO ) đang làm SEO được hơn 15 năm. Hiện tại Nguyễn Duy Hải đang tập trung trong lĩnh vực SEO POD, Ecommerce Global. Nguyễn Duy Hải mang lại giải pháp SEO Mentor cho cá nhân, Team và công ty vừa và nhỏ. NguyenHaiSEO, Nguyen Hai SEO

  199. PSL88 Registration in Pakistan – Register with PSL88 using your phone number ⚽️ PSL88 Sign Up ✓ Create an account, get a sign-up bonus, and win – PSL88.co. PSL88.co is not a bookmaker but an independent website offering research-based reviews, news, and information on top bookmakers. At PSL88.co, we do not have any ownership or affiliation with any of the bookmakers listed on our site. We only provide guides and information on cricket betting sites and their services. Another Website: PSL88 PSL88.cc

  290. I’m pretty pleased to uncover this website. I wanted to thank you for ones time for this particularly fantastic read!! I definitely liked every bit of it and I have you book marked to check out new information in your site.

  301. I blog often and I seriously thank you for your information. Your article has really peaked my interest. I will book mark your blog and keep checking for new details about once per week. I subscribed to your Feed too.

  317. What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively useful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its aided me. Great job.

  325. Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is wonderful, let alone the content!

  337. Hi, I do think this is an excellent site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will come back once again since i have saved as a favorite it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide other people.

  347. I just couldnt leave your website before saying that I really enjoyed the useful information you offer to your visitors… Will be back often to check up on new stuff you post!

  430. Having read this I thought it was really informative. I appreciate you taking the time and energy to put this informative article together. I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile!

  436. If most people wrote about this subject with the eloquence that you just did, I’m sure people would do much more than just read, they act. Great stuff here. Please keep it up.

  443. Aw, this was an incredibly nice post. Taking the time and actual effort to create a top notch article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and don’t seem to get nearly anything done.

  446. I absolutely love your blog.. Pleasant colors & theme. Did you make this web site yourself? Please reply back as I’m looking to create my very own website and want to find out where you got this from or what the theme is named. Thank you.

  448. A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do believe that you ought to publish more about this topic, it may not be a taboo subject but usually people do not speak about such topics. To the next! All the best!

  451. The post is absolutely great! Lots of great info and inspiration, both of which we all need! Also like to admire the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you offer! I will bookmark your website!

  545. 亚博体育更是全球经济体系领先的线下娱乐公司之一。亚博体育已经成为全球最受欢迎的网上体育公司之一。亚博体育在全球范围内提供服务，拥有大量的客户

  598. Right here is the right site for everyone who wants to understand this topic. You understand so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really would want to…HaHa). You definitely put a brand new spin on a subject that has been written about for years. Great stuff, just great.

  628. I was suggested this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my difficulty. You are wonderful! Thanks!

  631. An intriguing discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you need to publish more about this issue, it may not be a taboo subject but usually people do not speak about such issues. To the next! Best wishes.

  669. May I simply say what a relief to uncover someone that really understands what they’re talking about on the internet. You definitely understand how to bring a problem to light and make it important. A lot more people need to look at this and understand this side of the story. I can’t believe you aren’t more popular since you certainly possess the gift.

  675. That’s some inspirational stuff. Never knew that opinions might be this varied. Thanks for all the enthusiasm to supply such helpful information here.

  706. May I simply just say what a relief to uncover a person that truly knows what they are discussing over the internet. You actually know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More people must check this out and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that you aren’t more popular since you certainly have the gift.

  723. Great blog here! Additionally your website rather a lot up very fast! What host are you the usage of? Can I get your associate link for your host? I desire my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

  724. After I initially left a comment I appear to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now whenever a comment is added I receive four emails with the exact same comment. Perhaps there is an easy method you can remove me from that service? Thanks a lot.

  737. Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular post! It’s the little changes that make the most important changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!

  766. You have made some good points there. I looked on the internet to find out more about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this website.

  780. I blog quite often and I really thank you for your content. The article has truly peaked my interest. I’m going to bookmark your blog and keep checking for new information about once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed as well.

  794. I’m just commenting to let you be aware of of the perfect experience my friend’s princess found checking your web page She realized a wide variety of issues, not to mention what it is like to have a marvelous helping nature to make many others with no trouble completely grasp certain tricky topics You undoubtedly surpassed our own desires Thanks for showing the effective, trusted, revealing as well as cool tips about your topic to Gloria

  795. I dont think Ive caught all the angles of this subject the way youve pointed them out. Youre a true star, a rock star man. Youve got so much to say and know so much about the subject that I think you should just teach a class about it

  829. Surprisingly good post. I really found your primary webpage and additionally wanted to suggest that have essentially enjoyed searching your website blog posts. Whatever the case I’ll always be subscribing to your entire supply and I hope you jot down ever again soon!

  851. Hello, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Chrome, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other than that, awesome blog!

  855. Aw, this was an incredibly good post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to produce a very good article… but what can I say… I hesitate a whole lot and never seem to get anything done.

  862. It has been three years since Serenity April, a 12-year-old girl, took her own life, but her mother, Tessa April, continues to struggle with the pain of her loss. Despite the passage of time, Tessa’s grief remains as fresh as if her daughter had died yesterday. Serenity is one of 36 young individuals who committed suicide between 2017 and 2019, leaving behind grieving parents who are grappling with profound sorrow. These parents face the agony of not understanding why their children ended their lives, the pain of never having had the chance to say goodbye, and a deep sense of helplessness. Many still yearn for the sound of their child’s laughter, the warmth of a goodnight hug, or the simple joy of a homecoming kiss.

    For those who want to stay informed on important issues like mental health and grief, joining A2Bookmarks Belgium can be incredibly helpful. This Belgium Best 2025 Social Bookmarking Website provides a platform to access valuable resources and updates, ensuring you stay connected with the latest information and support.

  865. I’d like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning this website. I really hope to view the same high-grade content from you later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own, personal site now 😉

  890. I’m amazed, I have to admit. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both equally educative and interesting, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head. The issue is an issue that not enough men and women are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy I came across this in my hunt for something relating to this.

  929. Hi, I do believe this is a great blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may come back yet again since I book-marked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.

  945. Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is wonderful, let alone the content!

  950. Профессиональный сервисный центр по ремонту ноутбуков, макбуков и другой компьютерной техники.
    Мы предлагаем:ремонт макбук в москве центр
    Наши мастера оперативно устранят неисправности вашего устройства в сервисе или с выездом на дом!

  955. Greetings! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information. You have done a wonderful job!

  994. I concur with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your future updates. The usefulness and significance is overwhelming and has been invaluable to me!

  1000. Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossip and net stuff and this is actually frustrating.

  1002. The next time I read a blog, I hope that it won’t disappoint me just as much as this particular one. I mean, Yes, it was my choice to read through, nonetheless I actually believed you would have something helpful to talk about. All I hear is a bunch of complaining about something you could possibly fix if you were not too busy looking for attention.

  1007. Профессиональный сервисный центр по ремонту бытовой техники с выездом на дом.
    Мы предлагаем:сервис центры бытовой техники петербург
    Наши мастера оперативно устранят неисправности вашего устройства в сервисе или с выездом на дом!

  1010. Профессиональный сервисный центр по ремонту радиоуправляемых устройства – квадрокоптеры, дроны, беспилостники в том числе Apple iPad.
    Мы предлагаем: сервисный центр квадрокоптеров
    Наши мастера оперативно устранят неисправности вашего устройства в сервисе или с выездом на дом!

  1032. Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here It’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained I’m sure you had fun writing this article.

  1048. Профессиональный сервисный центр по ремонту бытовой техники с выездом на дом.
    Мы предлагаем:сервисные центры по ремонту техники в екб
    Наши мастера оперативно устранят неисправности вашего устройства в сервисе или с выездом на дом!

  1084. This game can be accessed only after verifying your age. Free games are still available in some online casinos. This game can be accessed only after verifying your age. Free games are still available in some online casinos. A slot game’s number of reels is often reflected by its row and column design. But this is different in the White Orchid Slot. Instead of having 5 reels based on its 5×4 array, it has 20 different reels. Each space on the display has a reel, and wilds can land on each from 2 to 5. That means that some huge wins can be gotten. White Orchid Slot With over 800 slot machines, you are sure to find a favorite. The volatility of Mystic Fortune Deluxe is medium, which makes it a less ideal match for our preferred slot machine strategies. We suggest pursuing the highest volatility possible when selecting slots.
    https://goosangint.cafe24.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=46609
    *No posted total was available for the first Super Bowl but, given the average scoring of the time, 45 points would almost certainly have resulted in the over being the winning bet. Line shopping should be an upper echelon task on your checklist of things to do when making a TD bet—or any bet for that matter. Line shopping is simply the act of looking at various online sportsbooks for the best odds available. Since TDs are so hard to predict, you will often find very different odds on certain players across some of the major sportsbooks (BetMGM, Fanduel, DraftKings, etc).  At longer odds, it is worth considering Chiefs tight end Noah Gray at +4000 to score the first touchdown in the Super Bowl. Gray is at longer odds than players like Skyy Moore, who doesn’t get much usage, and Kadarius Toney, who may not play in this game due to an ongoing feud with the Chiefs organization. While unlikely, Gray has a better chance at scoring first in this game than his odds would suggest.

  1086. Профессиональный сервисный центр по ремонту фото техники от зеркальных до цифровых фотоаппаратов.
    Мы предлагаем: диагностика фотоаппарата
    Наши мастера оперативно устранят неисправности вашего устройства в сервисе или с выездом на дом!

  1089. Thanks , I’ve recently been searching for info about this topic for ages and yours is the best I have discovered so far. But, what concerning the bottom line? Are you certain concerning the source?

  1103. Профессиональный сервисный центр по ремонту бытовой техники с выездом на дом.
    Мы предлагаем:сервисные центры по ремонту техники в новосибирске
    Наши мастера оперативно устранят неисправности вашего устройства в сервисе или с выездом на дом!

  1104. provigil online pharmacy no prescription [url=https://pharmbig24.online/#]cialis mexico pharmacy[/url] bystolic pharmacy

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here