05 Oct 2023

Botswana is among the countries with an increasing number of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual abuse cases.

Addressing the fourth National Mental Health and psycho-social support forum for the northern region in Francistown on Wednesday, the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Mabuse Pule said the situation called for greater focus on addressing the root cause of GBV and sexual abuse rather than simply addressing the victim (s).

He said oftentimes, society tends to address the victims of GBV and sexual abuse and forgets to address the perpetrators, which he said were mostly men.

In that regard, he said there was a need to take a closer look at the social and cultural factors that tend to normalise violence against women and young girls.

Mr Pule said society should change the way it thought about GBV issues in order to make progress towards true gender equality and ending violence against women and girls.

The assistant minister further explained that GBV and sexual abuse had devastating impacts on the mental health of girls and women as it could lead to feelings of shame, guilt, depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.

“We need to realise that mental health is much broader and embraces biological, emotional, spiritual, cultural, social, mental and material aspects of experience that cannot necessarily be separated from one another,” said Mr Pule.

He stated that in most instances, society relegated the responsibility of mental health to health practitioners, which was not supposed to be the case.

He explained that it was important to recognise the connection between these issues to provide the necessary support and resources to help survivors heal.

The minister explained that interventions on mental health issues should uphold principles of a sense of safety, calmness, self and community efficacy, social connectedness and hope.

On other issues, Mr Pule said it was pleasing that special groups such as children, the youth, people with disabilities and the elderly had attended the forum.

“If children can acquire requisite skills and knowledge on how to promote positive living at an early age, they will be able to apply such tools in later life and realise their full potential as citizens,” said Mr Pule.

He explained that this year’s theme: Mental Health in Context, challenged everyone to explore the social, cultural, geographical, and economic determinants of mental health in different contexts at individual, family and community levels.

In his welcome remarks, the mayor of Francistown, Mr Godisang Radisigo said the forum came at a time when the country was overwhelmed with issues affecting mental health amongst communities.

Mr Radisigo stated that the forum was an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health and the need for improved systems and programmes to be in place to promote mental health and further assist those who find themselves battling with the effects of poor mental health.

The mayor indicated that everyone was either affected directly or indirectly by mental health issues due to various challenges they faced such as disability, poverty, teenage pregnancy alcohol and substance abuse, pandemics, GBV and child neglect.

“As a country, we see the need for such forums as mental health is heading to be a pandemic if not given the utmost attention,” he said.

The four-day forum was intended to create a space for people to discuss issues related to mental health, share their experiences, and learn from each other.

It is also a platform to raise awareness about mental health, reduce stigma, and provide support and resources to those who need it..

The forum also served as a tool to promote positive mental health. ENDS