The recent survey delineating the burgeoning suicide incidences in Kenya exemplifies how mental health has been largely ignored. The alarming rates of such anomalies is steered by the misconceptions, myths and generalizations about mental health. Mental health perceptions have evolved from the traditional notion of perceiving mentally challenged people as the sacks-carrying street roamers to the reality that everyone could be experiencing different levels of mental health breakdowns stemming from the daily life stressors.
One of the deeply entrenched fallacies that have resulted in the upsurge and neglect of mental instabilities is the belief that most people with mental disorders are under the influence of illicit drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, this misconception is also propagated by the most learned and informed Kenyans, who are supposed to be at the frontline lobbying for change in the narrative of mental disorders through awareness campaigns as well as compelling the government to implement proactive measures on the increasing mental health breakdowns among Kenyans. Such assumptions have disenfranchised many mentally strained people, with a good number of them succumbing to the pressure.
Just like the traditionally unfounded myth that people with mental disorders carrying sacks in the streets are likely to be drug peddlers, the fast spreading work and family related mental health stressors is associated with negativity and weakness. As a result, people who develop depression are becoming afraid to share because they will be blemished. Perceiving mental health breakdowns as a frailty is the most dangerous supposition of the 21st century as it pushes away the reality that life-related stressors are actually the major cause of the contemporary mental health eruptions. Besides, this conjecture not only denies the mentally strained the services they deserve but it also blinds the relevant stakeholders to overlook the seriousness of the situation.
Disregarding mental health and perceiving it negatively cements loneliness among the suffering, driving them to very hard decisions like committing suicide. The ignorance, myths, and stereotypes surrounding mental health has silhouetted efforts towards resuscitation. A majority of Kenyans develop mental health challenges from the harsh living conditions, unmet fulfillments and family/relationship entanglements. Instead of seeking for help and being perceived as weak, most depressed persons would rather commit suicide and call it quits.
There is need for the relevant stakeholders to conduct awareness campaigns to help a majority of Kenyans unlearn the myth and speculations surrounding mental health. Besides, the government should unbury its head from the sand and recognize the importance of developing effective mechanisms of tackling the escalating mental health breakdowns.
The Columnist is a Research Consultant, Policy Analyst & Strategist
