Mental health is yet to be a prominent conversation in African communities. In the African culture, there are various perspectives on mental health and mental health conditions that are a hindrance to those affected. Some believe mental illnesses to be the “devil’s attack,” or “witchcraft.” While others claim mental illnesses to be just madness. Mental health is also often associated with western culture, making it hard for African communities to grasp the gravity of the issue.
The reality is, the issue of mental health conditions resides on the continent. For instance, I – Kabasinga was diagnosed with depression and anxiety during my freshman year of university. I suffered a loss months before joining university and slowly and progressively lost interest in various activities while founding it harder to be around people. Inexplicably, I felt alone and hopeless. Before receiving medication, I tried to talk to my family about what was going on but was met with the usual ‘get out of your head’ responses. For a while, I also believed there was more I could have been doing rather than just feeling the way I was because I had been raised under the same cultural beliefs as my family.
Similarly, I – Takudzwanashe’s mental health issues was dismissed when I tried to share the burden I was carrying. I recall one of my childhood friends asking me if l had ever been depressed. When I shared my experience with him, he found it to be funny. If l had shared my experience about having a tummy ache or a terrible headache, he would have sympathized with me. Unfortunately, it is a different and painful story when mental health is involved.
Mental health conditions have a lot of negative effects and their main drivers include abusive relationships, death of a loved one and culture shock. Sometimes people with mental health conditions end up committing suicide because they feel like they do not fit in their societies anymore. This is because family and friends make fun of people with mental health conditions, rather than being supportive. Some people can joke around saying “kurumidza kubika sadza wedepression asati azvisungirira (hurry up and prepare supper before our depressed friend commits suicide)”. Our words and actions can kill someone slowly without us being aware, which is why it is important to be conscious of our words and actions.
Stigma and discrimination are like a cancer in our societies because some family members choose to distance themselves from people who might be bipolar or schizophrenic. The family members end up not visiting or involving them in family matters. If they were suffering from a chronic disease, would the family distance themselves or would they encourage them to cut down on sugar or salt? Why can’t the same support be offered to someone with a mental health condition?
Children are sometimes brought up in broken homes, simply because the other parent chose to break up with their partner after they realised that their partner had a long term condition. Some people in our African societies believe that mental health conditions are a result of punishment from the ancestors. In some cases, suffers are not willing to tell their friends or partners that they are taking medication for a condition. Unfortunately they can then end up having a relapse which may lead to institutionalisation.
We should normalise having conversations around mental health in our homes and encouraging both boys and girls to talk about their emotions and feelings. Expression of emotions and feelings does not make one weak but it proves that they are human. Let us all do our part in raising awareness of mental health issues and this will have a positive effect on our society. One way in which we can do that is through the use of performing arts, advertisements and posters. Its about time that there was a change, just because the myths and misconceptions around mental health have caused enough chaos and confusion in many homes. Therapy and counselling sessions are helpful too, and instead of being against counselling and therapy, we Africans should encourage one another to look for someone to talk to rather than drinking the pain or anger away.
Mental health conditions are not easily seen by the human eye but there are a lot of people that suffer in silence. Sometimes all we need to do is offer an attentive ear, not being judgemental can make a difference in someone’s life.
Kudos to you ladies. Mental health awareness should be emphasized
Louder please!!! Thank you ladies, keep raising awareness on mental health.. It’s vital. People should also make use of therapist. This is a really beautiful piece.
Volume ❗ Mental Health remains such a mystified topic yet many of young Africans are living in agony as a result! Amandla ✊ladies for sheding light on a topic people like to undervalue especially in our African communities!
I am glad you agree with Kabasinga and I. It is high time we create safe spaces in our communities and raise awareness for mental health issues.
Props for this, impeccable timing as one of the effects of the current social restrictions is an increase in mental health issues.
Thank you for reading. We are encouraged to keep voicing social issues such as these.
We need this voice!
Lack of knowledge has hurt many people, wrong decisions have been made but it is not too late.
A light shed in the right direction, mentorship in schools and places of worship are some ways we could change society’s perception in this area.
Proud of you Sammie.
Generose
It is truly encouraging when you agree! Thank you <3
Thanks for sharing. Have a sister suffering as well and it’s all so new to us. We don’t know how to support her because it’s all new to us. Our biggest challenge being in getting her to agree to medication. We once had to leave her in an institution and it nearly broke us all down especially our mother. It’s tough
You are being supportive and doing as much as you can. Our families ought to learn from yours!
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hi gal, am so glad u speaking out…. this could have been avoided if those of us before you had had the courage to come out and shared our struggles… this is a start of a greater path, it starts with u, remember to take it one day at a time… you will not be alone again…. big luv… thanx 4 being brave, thanx 4 representing, forgive those that cant empathise, they just don’t know what they are doing….
Do not feel the pressure to be brave or share your struggles. Remember to take it one day at a time too! Love you <3
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Depression and other forms of mental illnesses are real. However, once you feel depressed,avoid lonely situations. Always find somebody you can confide in. Speak up, do not ‘die’ silently.
I agree, which is why we are advocating for conversations surrounding mental health so those affected can have a safe space and become more open about what they are going through.
Whenever I think about mental health, the phrase that comes to my mind is “it’s okay not to be okay”, I mean, mental health just re-emphasis we are humans and we feel and react to our surrounds. I do hope that as the years go by, we Africans will realise and accept that mental health is real and happens to everyone just like how we all experience headaches. It is the intensity that differs but we all suffer from it, from time to time. Thank you ladies for joining the conversation.
“It is the intensity that differs, but we all suffer from it.” Such honest words Nanna, thank you.
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Dear Samantha, thanks so much for the huge contribution towards addressing this in the African context. It is indeed time for people to go over and beyond cultural myths and restrictions as mental health is real!!! Courage
Takudzwanashe and I felt this to be an important issue as well. Thank you for your encouragement <3