12 Aug 2025

In a bid to demonstrate compassion and resistance against despair, Doug Empire Botswana brought together members of the public for a national prayer aimed at combating the rising tide of suicide cases in the country this past Saturday.

The initiative was led by Mr Douglas Maroku, founder of Doug Empire, a gospel artist, author and mental health, rape, and domestic violence advocate. 

Mr Maroku has emerged as a powerful voice in Botswana by transforming his personal trauma into a source of hope for others.

In his keynote address, Mr Maroku said the event was inspired by the urgent need to address the recent increase in suicide cases. 

He shared his own story as a rape survivor, revealing that he once considered taking his own life, but ultimately overcame through resilience and faith.

For his part, Dr Aaron Majuta of Arneo Training Counselling and Research Institute stressed that prayer is a form of communication between people and a higher power. 

He noted that suicide cases in both the formal and informal sectors have reached alarming levels and have gone largely unabated for a long time.

Citing a study conducted by Busang et al. on suicidal ideation and attempts among youth living with HIV and AIDS in Botswana, Dr Majuta said the highest rate of suicide deaths was among individuals aged 25–34, followed by those aged 35–44, and then 15–24. 

The study also found that suicide mortality was generally low among children aged 0–14, highest between 15–44 years, and lower again among those aged 45 and above.

He further highlighted alarming suicide trends from the years 2000 to 2012, with statistics showing a steady increase. 

The rate among men rose from about 20 to 22 per 100 000, while the rate among women increased from around four to nearly 11 per 100 000 population. ENDS