ICYMI- Kuilsriver father kills wife and daughter before killing himself

A Kuilsriver father shot and killed his wife and daughter before he took his own life. Their son survived the shooting.

Sep 26, 2022 - 07:36
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ICYMI- Kuilsriver father kills wife and daughter before killing himself

In a terrible family tragedy, a Kuilsriver father shot and killed his wife and daughter before he took his own life. Their son survived the shooting as he managed to flee.

THE FAMILY TRAGEDY HAPPENED IN KUILSRIVER

According to reports, Hilton van Zyl first shot and killed his wife, Annastasia, before killing their teenage daughter Cassidy. Their 23-year-old son managed to flee from the house.

Hilton then turned the gun on himself.

It is believed the shooting happened on Friday.

The motive for the family tragedy is not yet known.

The son was treated in hospital for shock and is believed to be with family now.

The community was, on Sunday evening, still reeling from shock. Annastasia was the chairperson of the local community police forum and also an estate agent.

Annastasia van Zyl Photo: Facebook
Hilton van Zyl and his wife, Annastasia. Photo: Facebook
Kuilsriver father kills wife and daughter before killing himself
Cassidy van Zyl Photo:Facebook

SADAG NOTES AN INCREASE IN PEOPLE REACHING OUT

The Operations Director at SADAG Cassey Chambers stated that there has been an increase in the number of people reaching out, reports SABC News. Chambers explained that there are a lot more challenges, triggers and stresses and that more people are feeling overwhelmed.

“We have seen an increase in the number of calls in people reaching out. At the moment it’s over 3 000 calls per day and 1 in 5 of our calls are suicide-related. We have heard of young children as young as Grade 9 who are taking their own lives. We are hearing of university students as well. So, we are hearing more and more about it which I think what is important is raising awareness and talking about it and people reaching out for help,”

Chambers said.

ALSO READ: Suspended teenager commits suicide in Hazelmere

IMPORTANT NUMBERS FOR THOSE IN NEED

People who feel they are in need are urged to call. You may SMS 31393 and a counsellor will call you back. If WhatsApp is easier, SADAG is open seven days a week from 8:00 to 17:00 on the number 087 163 2030 for free assistance.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization recently called on all nations to invest more in mental health, saying “the suffering is enormous” and has been made worse by the Covid pandemic.

Even before Covid-19 almost a billion people were living with a mental disorder, the UN agency said in its largest review of global mental health in two decades.

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: INVEST MORE IN MENTAL HEALTH

Then in the first year of the pandemic, rates of depression and anxiety went up by a quarter, even as scarce resources were deployed to fighting the virus.

Just 2% of national health budgets and less than 1% of all international health aid goes to mental health, the WHO’s report said.

“All these numbers are very, very low,”

Mark Van Ommeren of the WHO’s mental health unit told a news conference.

“Interest in mental health right now is at an all time-high” due to the pandemic,

he said.

“But the investment in mental health has not gone up. This report gives countries information on how to invest their mental health money better.”

ALSO READ: Mood disorders: Know the signs and ways to help your teen