Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 A wave of protests hit Kenya these past months as anger over tax hikes and the cost of living
00:06 spilled into the streets.
00:08 Anger, frustration and fear all having a deep impact on people's lives.
00:14 Some of the main causes that we have noted to have maybe contributed to mental health
00:19 conditions or issues, we can talk of economic hardships right now in the country.
00:26 So many people are trying so hard to let's say make a living and in these times depression
00:32 kicks in and people don't have the control over their mental health.
00:36 I have sleeplessness.
00:38 I haven't slept for like three days now.
00:41 But for many like Joyce Mugure, who struggled for many years with bipolar disorder, it takes
00:46 time to find courage to ask for help.
00:49 I didn't know what I was going through.
00:52 So all my life I've been feeling different.
00:54 I've faced a lot of stigma and discrimination because most people around me didn't understand
00:59 what I was going through.
01:00 Nobody knew it was an illness until one day when I was very suicidal, I saw someone advocating
01:07 for mental health online and I reached out to them.
01:12 The Psychiatric Disability Organization in Kenya estimates around two million people
01:17 are living with mental health issues.
01:19 The organization offers therapy sessions at moderate rates with services for people who
01:24 can't afford the payments.
01:26 If not handled, mental health issues can have devastating consequences.
01:31 The World Health Organization estimates that Africa has the world's highest rates of suicide
01:36 in the world.
01:38 Breaking down taboos around admitting to suffering psychological distress is key to bringing
01:43 the numbers down.
01:44 Gladys Mwiti is a psychologist.
01:47 She shares her recipe for good mental health.
01:49 Do not take it for granted when you are finding you cannot sleep because insomnia is related
01:55 to stress and the stress then will lead you to depression.
01:59 So make sure you sleep well, exercise, eat well and then get support around yourself.
02:06 Make sure you have one or two friends that you can run to at any time of night or day.