Police in Shakawe have raised alarming concern over rising suicide cases among young males in the area.
This follows the discovery of a 26-year-old man who was found hanging from the rafters of his home recently in Mohembo West. The incident, confirmed by Station Commander Superintendent Ogolotse Tampa, marks the sixth suicide reported in the Shakawe policing area since January.
Superintendent Tampa disclosed that police were alerted to the scene around 9 am, where they found the deceased. A preliminary investigation revealed that the man’s mother had last spoken to him the previous night and discovered his body the next morning when she went to ask for money to run errands.
Tampa revealed that out of the six suicides recorded this year in the region, five were male victims, while the sixth was an 11-year-old girl, a troubling trend that reflects national data.
In Maun, Station Commander, Superintendent Joseph Lepodise shared that the statistics of suicide from January until now are eleven (11) featuring all males as compared to the same period last year of six, and with an annual tally of sixteen signaling troubling trend.
Lepodise shared that part of the problem is that the issue affects men the most and men have a hard time with sharing their struggles and this can lead to such drastic measures which are never advised as a solution.
According to the latest Botswana Causes of Mortality Annual Reports for 2021 and 2022, Botswana recorded 275 suicide deaths in 2022, down from 307 in 2021. Despite this slight decline, a stark gender disparity remains, with 239 of the 2022 victims being male. The male suicide rate stood at 21 per 100,000, compared to 3 per 100,000 for females. Most affected were young and middle-aged men, particularly in the 25–34 age group, which recorded 99 male suicides in 2022.
“These deaths are happening month after month,” Tampa emphasized. “We are urging anyone going through difficult circumstances or having suicidal thoughts to reach out—whether to health professionals, police officers, or counselors—before making irreversible decisions. Suicide is a permanent solution to temporary problems, and we must work together as a community to break the silence.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, you are encouraged to seek support from your local health facility or professional counselor.
