The surge, largely linked to exposure to violence and abuse, comes into sharp focus as the country marks Child Protection Week from May 25 to June 1.

The Teddy Bear Foundation, a Johannesburg-based non-profit organisation that works with vulnerable children, says it is seeing more young people struggling with severe emotional distress. Many of the affected children are either direct victims of abuse or have witnessed traumatic events in their homes and communities.

Dr Shaheda Omar, Director of the Foundation, says the mental health needs of children are being overlooked. “We are encountering rising levels of trauma in children, and it’s deeply concerning. The emotional wounds are just as harmful as physical ones, and we need the National Treasury to prioritise youth mental health in its budgeting,” she said.

This year’s Child Protection Week theme, “Working together in ending violence against children”, highlights the importance of collective action in safeguarding the country’s youngest citizens. Omar stressed that the campaign must move beyond symbolic gestures.

“Child Protection Week began in 1997, but 28 years on, we still face the same core issues,” she said. “For those of us on the ground, child protection is not just a once-a-year event; it is a 365-day mission. It requires commitment from families, communities, and all levels of government.”

--ChannelAfrica--