Police in the Otjozondjupa Region have raised concerns about the increasing cases of suicide. They are now appealing to the public going through problems and challenges to seek help instead of taking their own lives.

The concern follows after police recorded three suicides of security forces in one week.

Regional Community Liaison Officer, Senior Inspector Maureen Mbeha, said a 34-year-old Namibian Defence Force soldier stationed at Okahandja’s Osona Military Base committed suicide by hanging on 3 August.

The deceased has been identified as Helena Nalushila.

Mbeha says Nalushila, who was a suicidal person, was found by relatives hanging from a piece of clothing in the family main bedroom at Osona Village.

No suicide note was left. 

On the same day, at the Malanami location in Grootfontien, Paulina Tweumuna (37), took her life by ingesting cockroach pesticide liquid.

Mbeha says neighbours transported Tweumuna to the state hospital, where she died while being attended to by medical personnel. 

Tweumuna was a member of the Correctional Services at Grootfontien. 

The suicides of the two women come just days after another police officer at Otjiwarongo shot himself in public near the town's Traffic Unit Offices.