Botswana Loses over 2,000 People to Suicide Since 2007

GABORONE  (PANA/NAN) ─ Some 2,389 people have committed suicide in the diamond-rich Botswana since 2007, according to the country’s Defence, Justice and Security Minister, Dikgakgamatso Seretse.

Addressing parliament on Wednesday, Seretse said that there were 313 suicides in 2007, 325 in 2008, 324 in 2009, 338 in 2010, 310 in 2011, 333 in 2012, 331 in 2013 and 115 from Jan. 6 to July 2014.

The Minister attributed the causes of the high number of suicide in the southern African nation to intimate partner related killing, illness, family misunderstandings and financial problems, among others.

Botswana police have appealed to the public to seek professional help or share their problems with others rather than resort to suicide.

Report says the rate of suicide is considered very high for Botswana, which has a population of 2.052 million. 

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