07 Dec 2016

It seems young people have resorted to attempting suicide to solve problems when situations are unbearable.

Many who have gone through the ordeal say they did not necessarily want to die but to end their pain be it emotional or physical.

A survivor of attempted suicide, Ms Tshidi Billy shared her story not only to develop affirmation of hope within herself but to help others who might be struggling with similar issues.

She explained that some victims were pressurised by the situations they were in.

She said a person who took that decision was not in her/his right mind either and saw no alternative. She admitted that they took wrong decision because they lose hope easily and feel that they could not cope with the situation.

Narrating her story, she said it was not all about relationships but the many deaths she experienced in her family at the age of 25.

She lost her mother in 2012, her father died in 2013 and same month her young sister passed on while in 2015 she lost her brother.

“The thoughts of attempting suicide clouded my mind and fortunately I did not know which method to use to end my life. I thought of drinking something poisonous, using a rope and or being involved in a road accident but some members of the family offered counseling until I came to my senses,” she said.

She could not bear with the situation and wished she could be dead too because she felt lonely. “Unfortunately my elder brother who is a police officer kept on motivating and counseling me until I came to my senses,” she added.

Ms Billy said going to church also made her strong as she realised that to lose loved ones does not mean that God hated her family.

She however, advised youth to refrain from taking decisions that they would haunt them for the rest of their lives noting that every situation has a solution. She said they should treat hard times as a lesson which would eventually results in a successful life.

To those in relationships, she said they should also learn to create room for disappointment adding that to be in a relationship is not a guarantee that your partner would marry you.

“You should take time to know your partner before you commit yourself and also stop choosing wrong partners for wrong reasons,” said Ms Billy.

The escalating incidents of attempted suicides had raised a concern amongst some tribal leaders and the police. Some concerned parents said associated the incidents with sour relationships amongst lovers and children who do not want to be reprimanded, advised, guided and disciplined by their parents.

In an interview, Assistant Superintendent Oarabile Hulela has raised a concern about the escalating number of attempted suicide incidents in his policing area which mostly involve young people due to sour relationships.

He could not reveal the statistics recorded but noted that the incidents are worrisome and needed an urgent attention. He explained that attempted suicide was a punishable offence and urged the youth to stop taking decisions which would bring pain to their families.

“They should understand that life has many challenges which they had to stand and find a way to solving them rather than taking their precious life,” he added.

Assistant Superintendent Hulela said it has come to his attention that some victims attempted suicide over small things which could be solved amicably if relevant officials could be engaged.

He further pointed out that most of the incidents they recorded were due to sour relationships. He cited a recent incident in which a 29-year-old man was rescued by his neighbour as he attempted suicide at Boseja ward after his girlfriend asked him to end their relationship.

“Fortunately, he survived without any injuries and he was rushed to the hospital for counseling,” he said. However, Assistant Superintendent Hulela said as police, they normaly offer counseling for the victims own safety. He also appealed to young people and the public in general to seek assistance.

Kgosi Judith Sedumedi of Sedie ward in Maun shared same sentiments that the incidents were worrisome and mostly were due to failed relationships as some partners do not want to accept to end their relationships hence they resort to attempted suicide.

She said some parents were also failing to provide parental guidance to their children when they start dating emphasising the need to create a friendly environment.

She said by doing so, children would be open to discuss and share critical issues affecting their lives with their parents. Kgosi Sedumedi said in the past, they were advised to choose friends who were well disciplined and wished parents could emulate such tradition. ENDS