Botswana: The Ministry of Trade and Industry of Botswana staff held a men’s mental health and the silent epidemic of male suicide presentation with Tlhakulagae Lenkokame from the Men’s sector yesterday.
Tlhakulagae Lenkokame said statistics show that men have high suicide rates as compared to women because they are naturally fewer talkers, so they do not express their feelings. Men do not channel their problems, and they end up resorting to violence and suicide.
Furthermore, Tlhakulagae Lenkokame stated that another major cause of suicide amongst men is the pressure they are facing in their daily lives as they are expected to provide for their families. However, at times, they are unable to. This may lead to stress, which can develop into depression and eventually suicide.
The presenter also noted that some relationships bring disappointments when they do not go as expected, and in most cases, men get overwhelmed, and they end up killing their partners and committing suicide.
He also highlighted that the chances of men killing themselves are four times more than that of women, although they go through the same problems. On average, of 10 years, 3030 people commit suicide globally, and it is mostly men.
Tlhakulagae further said that it is not easy to note when someone is depressed and suicidal as it is not every day that men open up about challenging issues, although some signs in men could be unstable eating habits. Water hydration and walking have been identified as some of the measures to relieve stress.
To help curb suicide, staff was urged to help groom a boy child from a young age to be intellectual individuals with abilities to handle stress. Men should be raised knowing that they must express their emotions and that violence and suicide are not solutions.