BDF drills army on mental health
Pini Bothoko | Monday October 30, 2023 06:00
Since the beginning of 2022, the BDF has been hit by recurring incidents of homicide and suicide with some members killing their spouses or girlfriends. Moreover, across the country, some BDF members also appear in different courts of law in relation to crimes such as rape, defilement, and murder. In a bid to deal with the problem, and also concerned with these rising cases, the BDF leadership this week hosted a mass lecture on mental health for its personnel. The seminar was attended by soldiers across the ranks at the Sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB).
The mass lecture is one of the many strategies employed by the BDF to sensitise its personnel on gender based violence (GBV), suicide and financial literacy. Early this year, the Defence and Security minister, Kagiso Mmusi expressed concern over the negative incidents involving members of the BDF, which he said drag the institution's reputation in the mud. “Of recent the BDF has been leading local news with incidents that are not pleasing. I was embarrassed by one of the local newspapers’ front page, I could not read it. After receiving that newspaper, I immediately threw it inside the dustbin because I was humiliated. You are a disciplined organisation and I am pleading with you to behave as such,” said Mmusi then.
In his opening remarks, at this week's event, General Joseph Seelo said the lecture came at a time when the BDF was challenged by severe adversities peddled by an increased prevalence of cases of suicide and GBV. “This becomes a true reflection of the country’s picture which has one of the world’s highest suicide rates. Botswana’s suicide rate is calculated at 19 per 10, 000 of the population. This places the country at number 14 in the world suicide rankings, which ultimately presents an unpleasant state of affairs for all of us,” he said. Seelo also said recently the BDF has experienced a spike in suicide cases by its service members as suicide ideation and attempts are also prevalent occurrences among the military personnel. “In the past five years, our social welfare offices have recorded a total of 132 cases of suicide attempts and ideation within the BDF. This scenario is not only worrisome but has a ripple effect on our image as an organisation and may leave unpleasant memories in lives of our loved ones,” he said.
Additionally, Seelo said on the same breath, GBV has also been prevalent within the BDF personnel contrary to their culture of discipline and good repute. “Spates of violence particularly violence against women and children are recorded in their service centres. The recent Botswana relationship study reports that 67% of women in Botswana have experienced violence in the 12 months preceding the study. This is a great concern to the national leadership and to the BDF high command,” Seelo said. He further pleaded with members of the BDF to desist from behaviours that may pose a danger to tarnishing the defence force and presenting perilous situations among their families. He added that their families are the core of force readiness and as such GBV threatens the pillar. “You may note that of recent, the BDF high command has taken a decision to require all members who are nominated for deployment to undergo pre-deployment counselling. This initiative was extended to their families in an endeavour to minimise disequilibrium and enhance both the members as well as the family resilience,” Seelo said.
Meanwhile, addressing a packed meeting, the BDF Commander, Lieutenant General Placid Segokgo pleaded with members of the BDF to learn to open up and seek help when troubled. He said across their barracks, they have structures that provide psychosocial support to all members of the BDF. General Segokgo conceded that a lot of soldiers are currently undergoing mental challenges that may adversely affect their mental health hence the need for them to always seek help when they see any signs. “I plead with you to take today’s lecture serious so that you can be able to recognise mental health issues, symptoms and coping mechanisms. Everyone goes through a lot at some point in life but you should be able to cope with the stresses of life. People with mental health conditions are more likely to experience lower levels of mental well being but that does not mean they should give up in life,” Segokgo said.
Giving soldiers financial literacy advice, Nelson Letshwene from Dikwata SACCOS, pleaded with the army to have a relationship with their money. He said a lot of soldiers are swimming in debts and suffer depression because they do not have a relationship with their money. “When you set up a goal, and talk to your money to help you reach that goal, it will. Your money needs your leadership. It needs direction. Indeed money follows the character of its owner. Learn to save and invest while still working and to avoid loan top ups because most of you, your take home is smaller hence you are struggling to cope and you are simply living a stressful life while having a permanent job,” he said.