Are We A Society Of Emotional Wrecks?

Monitor Editor | Monday July 29, 2019 11:58

Yet, nothing seems to be improving as the Botswana Police Service (BPS) continues to register a high number of murder cases, which include intimate partner killings, also referred to as passion killings.

Just last week, there were reports of a young man who killed his girlfriend, and committed suicide by hanging himself, soon after committing the offence. Police investigations reveal that the two had a misunderstanding earlier.

Are we as a society faced with the challenge of some amongst us who find it difficult to deal with their emotions, more specifically, anger issues? As a country how well resourced are we to deal with these kinds of situations?

From time immemorial seeking counselling has been associated with being weak, and some actually came up with distasteful words such as shrinks to refer to psychiatrists, psychologists or therapists, to actually discourage people from seeking counselling services to deal with their problems.

All human beings have emotions. We all have feelings like sadness and anger, in response to different thoughts and situations. We act differently to different situations. There are people who can actually walk away from provocation, while others will take action when provoked, which sometimes can or might lead to confrontations that may turn deadly.

First world countries have invested in counselling facilities, and have managed to make counselling services accessible to its citizenry.

It is not uncommon for courts of law in the United States of America to recommend anger management classes for some of its offenders. Are we not at a point where government needs to invest in such facilities?

We often hear of students beating up teachers in schools, which I believe is a wake up call for government to think of addressing these issues, and making an assessment of what needs to be priorities. BPS has time and again expressed concern at the growing rate of drug use in the country, but government seems to be mum on the issue, except for arresting drug dealers, and users.

Many countries, after realising the growing challenges presented by substance abuse, decided to invest in rehab centres for drug users, but our beloved country still has not seen the need to invest in building these facilities.

A number of young people have fallen prey to drug pushers and are using drugs heavily, hence the need for government to act fast and ensure that these youngsters are steered back on the right path.