The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) SMS helpline, aimed at helping depressed teenagers, received over 100 SMSes within its first week of operation.
The SMS service, which was opened on Monday last week, encourages teenagers who are contemplating suicide to send an SMS to 31393. They will then receive advice from skilled counsellors.
Each SMS costs 86c, charged by all three cellphone networks (Cell C, MTN and Vodacom).
SMSes can be sent between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week, says Jeanie Cave, SADAG outreach coordinator. "Our experienced counsellors are always ready to respond to SMSes sent during the times provided."
She says 9% of all teen deaths are caused by suicide in SA, according to the 2002 National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey. "The number of SMSes we've received thus far illustrates the serious nature of suicide among teenagers in the country."
Support
Sponsoring this initiative, telecoms service provider Stouf Communications has installed the Stouf client software on a computer at SADAG offices and also provides technical support.
The software enables SADAG to run the SMS service, says Mic Loubser, director of sales and marketing at Stouf Communications.
Explaining how the software works, Loubser says: "When the Stouf SMS bureau receives the SMS, their database of numbers determine who the 'client' is and then routes the SMS to the Stouf client software at the SADAG offices, showing the cell number as well as the content of the SMS message. Upon receiving the SMS, SADAG staff can then send a reply via the same route.
"Kids find it difficult to open up, so we figured it was best to provide the SMS service based on the popularity of SMS in that age group," says Cave. "Our counsellors normally respond via the SMS route to ask for permission from the SMS sender to call them back.
"All communication between the teenager and the counsellor is strictly confidential. The counsellors normally encourage the kids to talk to an adult they trust and we also get them in touch with professional helpers who deal with teenage issues."
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