Mental health struggles often go unnoticed in teens. Ajuda’s new school-based screening programme aims to change that by making early support possible.
Johannesburg, June25: In February this year South African news outlets shared heartbreaking reports of a 14-year-old in Cape Town who allegedly died by suicide after being bullied. The news came just two months after two grade 10 learners in Limpopo tragically took their own lives after receiving disappointing exam results.
Sadly, these are not isolated incidents. According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), 9% of teen deaths in South Africa are caused by suicide and female suicides peak between the ages of 15 and 19 years.
More than teen angst
The teenage years are famous for being emotionally tumultuous. Teens are almost expected to be moody, volatile, and uncommunicative with their parents. The danger is that expectation can make it harder for parents to identify when their teens are struggling with their mental health. And according to 2021 data from UNICEF, 32% of South African teens show symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Ajuda is a South African startup that promotes preventative healthcare through its secure, digital, healthcare record storage vault, as well as screening programmes, particularly in schools. At a general health screening event for school children organised by a community tutoring centre in Gauteng last year, Ajuda gave older children the opportunity to do a short mental health assessment. “We uncovered a significant mental health gap,” says Dr Liza Street, a paediatrician and co-founder of Ajuda. “It was deeply eye-opening and revealed just how serious the mental health crisis was among this group of adolescents.”
Thanks to early detection, the affected students received timely intervention, and the tutoring centre has since implemented a comprehensive mental health programme for both children and adults. Just has hearing, vision and dental screenings are conducted in many schools, it planted the seed that mental health deserves the same attention. “Teens need access to mental health screenings just as much as physical ones because early detection and support can change the trajectory of a young person’s life,” says Dr Street. “It’s not only about identifying those at risk; it is also about building a culture where mental well-being is recognised as part of overall health.”
Anonymous mental health screening for children
Ajuda has developed a mental health screening tool specifically for teenagers, with the aim of making it widely available in schools across the country. A number of schools have already come on board. “The screening is completely anonymous – although learners have the option to fill in their names to seek help if they choose to,” says Dr Street.
User-friendly: It’s a written assessment that has been carefully designed to be engaging and non-intimidating. “It’s thoughtfully designed, not just black ink on white paper, like a traditional test, and it folds up like Origami at the end,” says Dr Street.
Expert independent scoring: Completed assessments go to the Ajuda office to be clinically scored by Ajuda’s expert team. “We then provide the school with an executive summary,” explains Dr Street. “This outlines what’s happening across different grades – for example, toxic social media use in the Grade Eight group, or heightened anxiety among the Grade Nines. It allows the school to implement targeted interventions at a group level, without singling out individual learners.”
Pathway to help: For learners who are struggling and don’t know how to ask for help, this assessment can be a lifeline. “If a learner provides their name and their responses suggest they may be at risk, they are sensitively identified and prioritised for timely, supportive follow-up,” says Dr Street.
In addition, Ajuda offers a free, anonymous helpline that learners can call to receive counselling and support. “Should a learner prefer to remain anonymous, they can access help through this helpline. Either way, support is there when they need it,” she adds.
Power of early intervention
Dr Street is especially excited about how early screening can shape a child’s mental health into adulthood.
“Adolescence is a period of significant brain development; it’s a phase where structural rewiring is still possible. If a teenager begins to experience depression and doesn’t get help, they’re probably going to become a depressed adult,” she explains. “Early intervention during the adolescent period provides a unique opportunity to shift the trajectory of their life and prevent long-term mental health challenges.”
Mental health First Aid
Another perk of destigmatising mental health conversations in schools is that it creates an environment where children can be trained to help each other.
Allan Sweidan, founder of the Akeso Hospital Group and co-founder of October Health, is the passionate Ajuda Chairperson. He adds: “For example, what happens if your friend tells you they’re suicidal? What must you do? How do you encourage them to seek help? There’s a big movement around youth mental health First Aid and empowering teachers, parents and children with the knowledge of what to do if someone discloses their mental health condition to you.”
While mental health is receiving a lot more attention nowadays than it did in the past, it’s still a taboo topic in many families. Introducing mainstream screening in schools is a powerful step towards addressing this stigma and ensuring children receive the support they need early. “That’s our philosophy at Ajuda,” says Dr Street. “If there is something we can identify now to help a young person grow into a healthier adult, we should absolutely do it.”