A Pretoria psychiatrist has told Eyewitness News the commonly held perception that suicides increase toward the end of the year is not necessarily true.

Doctor Vasco Ferreira has predicted more people may take their own lives this year as the effects of the global recession are being felt.

Ferreira said he was treating more patients for depression, due in part to the tough economic conditions.

He said although there was a widely held perception that more people commit suicide during the festive season, the statistics do not reflect this.

He has urged relatives and friends of depression sufferers to look out for signs that they might harm themselves, saying sometimes tough interventions are necessary to save their lives.

Ferreira says relatives of potential suicide victims sometimes have to resort to drastic measures to save their lives.

Eyewitness News