Historical Background
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Suicide behaviour constitutes a serious public and mental health problem, with an increasing number of young people taking their own lives. The overall suicide rates in many countries have risen over the last 10 to 15 years – to a large extent due to the increase in suicide in the younger age groups (Williams, 1997). In South Africa, suicide is the third leading cause of death in young people aged 15 to 24 and the fourth leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10and 14.
Youth Suicides in Pietermaritzburg
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While suicide is always viewed as a serious problem, this issue raised much concern in the Pietermaritzburg north area during the first half of 2001 when a secondary school pupil became the third pupil at his school and the 15th child in the area to take his own life over a period of 5 months.
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Feeling the need to respond to this problem Famcare Therapy Centre and Pietermaritzburg and District Community Chest (who initiated a mental health destigmatization campaign in the city during the year 2000) decided that a community-based prevention programme was necessary. A major campaign in the area could have maximum impact in reaching the youth and transmitting positive messages relating to mental health. This resulted in the birth of ‘Love to Live’, a campaign spearheaded by a committee of mental health professionals, educators, sports representatives, business and other concerned members of the community.
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Prevention of suicide is by no means an easy task. There is no doubt that to reduce the rate of suicidal behaviours signifcant attention must be given to helping the community identify and appropriately refer vulnerable individuals. This, of course, entails helping the community become more knowledgeable about mental health problems such as self-destructive behaviours.
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The Love to Live Campaign
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Against this background the co-ordinating committee set about developing a mental health promotion campaign targeting suicide prevention among the young. To this end responsible media coverage of the youth suicide problem was encouraged, focusing more on the help and resources available within the city and how to cope with suicidal thoughts. In this regard a healthy level of co-operation and liaison between mental health professionals and journalists is essential,
in view of the potential damage that can result from irresponsible journalism.
A two-day community awareness campaign was launched in an attempt to reduce the rate of suicides. The event took place at a large stadium in the city, and included social, recreational and sporting components, catering to the needs of the youth. However, it also imparted the valuable messages of positive mental health. It is important to remember that health promotion campaigns aimed at young people must include social and recreational elements in order to encourage attendance and participation. To this end the programme provided two full days of entertainment, sport, music, dance, fashion and sketch presentations by learners who were encouraged to infuse crucial positive messaging on suicide prevention.
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Target Community
Research has demonstrated that suicidal behaviour is not limited to specifc groups, and is increasingly affecting all of the nation’s people. However, in view of the concerns over the self-destructive behaviours among youth, the main target population for this campaign was Primary and Secondary School pupils. The idea was to encourage as many young people (and their families)as possible to attend and participate in the campaign so that the critical mental health messages of Love to Live could be disseminated.
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"We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference."
Nelson Mandela
Our Mission
The mission of Love to Live is to undertake community based projects that would create an
opportunity for young people (and adults) to learn about ways and means of preventing and
dealing with crucial public health issues. The aim of Love to Live is to use the vibrant medium of sport, music and dance to promote pertinent educational issues and healthy lifestyles among the youth.
Our Vision
Our vision is to make people aware that each of us has immense resources that we can draw on in times of need. If this is not available, then there are other external resources which one can utilize. In so doing a society is developed where young people are mentally healthy and equipped with appropriate problem solving skill that they can use in the face of stressful experiences.