30 Oct 2023

Botswana Defence Force (BDF) held a mass lecture on mental health at Sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB) recently in an effort to address some of the social ills facing the organisation and accord members a platform to discuss issues affecting them.

Addressing the assembled members at the SSKB Auditorium, BDF’s Deputy Commander, Major General Joseph Seelo said the leadership was concerned by the increase in cases of suicide and gender based violence within the military.

Major General Seelo noted that cases of suicide, GBV and homicide by the BDF members were not only a stain on the organisation’s image, but also left their families and loved ones with unpleasant memories.

He urged the members of the BDF to refrain from actions that might pose danger to life and tarnish the image of the organisation and instead find more meaningful ways whenever they feel burdened.

“Botswana’s suicide rate is calculated at 19 per 10 000 of the population and this places the country at number 14 in the world suicide ranking, which ultimately presents an unpleasant state of affairs for all of us,” said Major General Seelo.

He disclosed that in the past five years, the BDF’s social welfare office recorded 132 cases of suicide attempts, and stated that there had also been a noticeable increase in spates of violence, in particular violence against women and children.

He reminded the BDF personnel that the Domestic Violence Act and the BDF Act prohibited these offences.

Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital Clinical Psychologist, Ms Thuto Dipatane said many of their clients from BDF decried long deployment periods that took them away from their families, leaving them in distress.

She said although relationship problems accounted for the highest cause of all these concerns, junior officers also reported that they suffered bullying and abuse from their superiors at the workplace.  

Mrs Dipatane requested the leadership of the BDF to create a safe working environment by acknowledging and addressing the shortcomings of some common workplace practices.

A financial advisor, Mr Nelson Letshwene urged members of the BDF to take full responsibility of their finances. He noted that some suicide cases had been known to have been a result of financial problems.

Mr Letshwene stressed the importance of saving money for the future and creating assets which could be a source of income after retirement.

He urged them to exercise self-control when spending their income, and avoid borrowing, as that could lead to accumulation of debts. ENDS