03 Dec 2015

The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security says from 2005 to date, 3 030 suicides have been committed and 260 attempted suicides for the same period.

Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Shaw Kgathi said for the year 2015, 267 suicides have been recorded and 46 attempted suicides. He indicated that Botswana Police Service has now dedicated 24 hour suicide prevention toll free and 999 emergency numbers which are dedicated to deal with all forms of emergencies.

Mr Kgathi said police operators who are assigned to answer emergency number 999 are fully trained in emergency call handling. Member of Parliament for Mmadinare Mr Kefentse Mzwinila had asked the minister to state the number of suicide cases committed during the period of January 2005 to date, the number of documented attempted suicides during the above mentioned period, if the ministry has a dedicated 24 hour suicide prevention toll free number, and if not what plans are in place to ensure the service is in place and Batswana know how to access them.

He also asked the minister if the operators who attend to emergency numbers 999, 998, 997, 996 are trained and experienced to react to a suicidal caller, if not what plans are place to capacitate them.  Ends