Mjolo, toxic work environment a headache to soldiers
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday October 31, 2023 09:52
This was revealed by the hospital’s psychologist during a recent mass lecture on mental health that was held at the Botswana Defence Force’s (BDF) Sir Seretse Khama Barracks.
The BDF last week hosted a mass lecture on gender-based violence (GBV), suicide and financial literacy to sensitise soldiers on these issues. Addressing the army personnel, Sbrana Clinical Psychologist, Thuto Dipatane said a number of soldiers who come to seek help suffer from social anxiety and complain of work related issues.
“A lot of soldiers who come to seek our services are depressed and turn to isolate themselves socially, something that increases their depression symptoms. I plead with the BDF leadership to build a support network for its personnel,” she said. Dipatane said they have also established that many soldiers have thoughts of killing their spouses or girlfriends because of love relationship issues. “Many soldiers complained of love relationship problems and toxic work environment.
Le tlhasetswe borra, mjolo ole direla mathata,” she said. “Relationships issues are indeed troubling you hence the need to change how you approach your love relationship affairs. Sometimes it is not your partner, but you, hence the need to take responsibility as a person and stop pointing fingers.” Moreover, she said about 95% of soldiers also complained on how they are treated at work like long-term deployments.
She said soldiers complained that they would go for very long time and when they return they would find that they no longer have families, something that will lead them to depression and having thoughts of killing their spouses or girlfriends. Dipatane said soldiers also complain of bullying or abuse from their superiors in the work place and since they are a disciplined institution, they would prefer to suffer in silence. “These are some of the things soldiers usually complain about.
I will leave this to the BDF leadership to look at their system; what they have done or adjusted since we gave them the feedback. Some misuse their salary, they have so many loans and their take home is so small that they are no longer able to sustain themselves,” she said.
The psychologist encouraged members of the BDF to reach out to friends and family or join support groups when troubled than taking unnecessary decisions that can lead to depression. She said just talking about what they have been experiencing can help them feel better hence the need to find someone they trust and have an honest conversation with.
“Your social network, friends and family can be a source of comfort and strength, so don’t be afraid to seek help. We have also noticed an increase in substance abuse amongst soldiers as they turn to indulge in alcohol and drug abuse like cocaine, dagga, methcathinone popularly known as Cat that usually drives them to depression,” she said.
As a recommendation, Dipatane advised the BDF leadership to create a safe working environment for its personnel and to also sensetise them on financial management as financial literacy remains a vital tool. She also implored the BDF to capacitate their mental health units so that they can always be available to provide such services to offices. “Furthermore, I am pleading with the BDF to conduct its own research or study to establish factors that may be contributing to their recent acts,” she said.