#DRSNOTE 24 September 2025

September is Suicide Prevention Month - a time where we raise awareness, spread hope, and spark meaningful action and conversations around one of the most urgent mental health issuesof our time. According to the Council for Medical Schemes, in 2024 the estimated suicide rate in South Africa was 23.5 per 100 000, translating to about 14 000 deaths from suicide annually. It was thesecond biggest cause of death among people aged 15 to 29. We are joined on the line by Dr Keitumetse Mashego.