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It’s been seven months since 17-year-old Busisiwe Tonana died by suicide after learning that she had failed grade 10 in December 2024. Her sudden passing brought attention to the issue of mental illness among young people in the small mining town of Nyakallong in the Free State.
Goitsimang Manone, who lives down the road from Busisiwe’s family, says the tragic passing has made her more aware of the pressures her own children might be facing.
“I’m worried about my children’s well-being, especially when they get their reports. I fear that if they’re not doing well, it might affect their mental health,” says Manone, whose two children are in Grades nine and 11. “I just want them to be happy and successful. I know I need to be vigilant and support them through any challenges they might face.”
Busiswe’s family shares this sentiment. Her brother, Bafana Tonana says the family is still struggling to come to terms with their loss.
“We had no idea that Busisiwe was struggling with depression,” he says.”We thought she was just stressed about her exams. We wish we had known sooner, so we could have done something to help her. We did not know that she was that deeply affected by her results like that.”
A community crisis
Elias Siziba is a facilitator at the youth and peer-support club Radically Different Species (RADS) at Mosala Secondary School in Nyakallong. He says mental health challenges among young people in the area are deeply rooted in broader social and economic issues.
“As a social justice activist and young person who is born and bred in the township, I have seen first-hand the devastating impact of mental health issues on young people,” he says. “They are struggling to cope with the pressure of exams, poverty, and lack of opportunities. We need to provide them with the support and resources they need to thrive.”
Siziba says the lack of socio-support pushed him to revive RADS, the club he belonged to in high school.
“This club provided social programmes that helped me navigate life from a very young age,” he tells Health-e News.
“But there is only so much that we can do as social and mental health activists. We need resources and recognition of social determinants that drive these tragic incidents.”
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The role of schools
The principal at L.A Wesi Secondary School, where Busisiwe was enrolled, Wendy Agdebola, says her passing has had a lasting impact.
“Her death was and remains a shock to the whole school community. We had no idea that she was struggling with mental health issues. We need to do more to support our learners and provide them with the resources they need to cope with the pressures of life.”
Nkoko Ntlaltsa, a history teacher at the school and a member of the School-Based Support Team (SBST), says the team recognises the need to incorporate mental health awareness programmes and academic support.
“We might have been shortsighted in our team as we were only focusing on learners from disadvantaged and orphan homes and child-headed homes,” she says. “We’ve come to realise that mental health issues can affect any learner, regardless of their background. And we’re committed to providing support to all learners in need.”
Need for mental health literacy
“Busisiwe’s death shows us there is a lack of mental health literacy in schools,” she says. “The promotion of mental health literacy means reduction of stigma and shame surrounding mental illness, incentivises individuals to seek help early, and empowers individuals to support themselves and others.”
“In rural areas, where access to mental health services is limited, mental health literacy is especially important. By educating individuals and communities about mental health, we can create a safe space of support, reducing their risk of mental health crises and promoting overall well-being.” – Health-e News
