Unbearable mental pain Suicide is amongst leading causes of death Botswana ranked 58 in the world
Founder and Director of Psych Matters Botswana Dr Marekwe SelemogweMatsetse who offers mental health services in Clinical and Forensic Psychology says the key factor leading to suicide is unbearable mental pain.
Suicide, she said, can be understood as behaviour motivated by the desire to escape from unbearable psychological pain.
During the past few months, suicide reports have been on the rise and the situation was worrying. According to a 2018 report of the World Health Organisation (WHO), suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the country. Death Rate is reported at 11.51 per 100,000 of the population. Death by suicide ranks Botswana 58 in the world. “Behind each suicide and attempt is a long-term mental and emotional struggle of these individuals as well as experiences of trauma and distress. Suicidal behaviour is also most often accompanied by intense feelings of hopelessness, depression, or self destructive behaviours (Para suicidal behaviours),” she said. Dr. Selemogwe said other psychological factors like personality traits, emotional characteristics and dysregulation also seem to play a role, with emerging importance to decision-making deficit among suicidal individuals. She also attributes the increasing numbers of suicide to the Covid-19 pandemic and says throughout the month of September, they have been trying to raise awareness against suicide. “Several factors underpin concerns of suicide, including deterioration in population mental health. Social distancing as a part of Covid-19 preventative measures can lead to social disconnectedness for some. With that, there has been a higher prevalence of reported thoughts and behaviours of self-harm among people with Covid-19.” Grief is another experience many have, either directly related to Covid-19 or the pandemic’s impact on anticipated milestones or events. She added that interpersonal factors also play an essential role in suicides. “There is an understanding that suicide is also a social behaviour having some cultural characteristics that have to do with perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness as critical features that may lead to suicidal ideation and eventually to suicide.” Even more devastating is that each person who dies by suicide leaves behind an estimated six or more suicide survivors. “People who have lost someone they care about deeply are left grieving and struggling to understand. The grief process is always difficult. A loss through suicide is like no other, and grieving can be complex and traumatic. Suicide is an issue that affects not only the individual committing or attempting suicide but other people in his life as well,” she said.