Mental health: End all discrimination

The Monitor Editor | Tuesday August 23, 2022 06:00

While this may sound utopian, unfortunately, we all know that this is not the case with the world today.

We have amongst us people who have mental illnesses and often we have come across someone or some people ridiculing such a person, and sadly most of us have not even intervened in such scenarios.

Different organisations have been aggressively staging awareness campaigns to educate and sensitise the public on issues of mental health, but sadly these efforts seem to be falling on deaf ears.

People with mental illnesses are often treated negatively and for that often feel alone. They often feel like they do not belong with the rest of the community. Issues of stigma are also still very rife within our society as people with mental illness are often identified by their illness rather than who they are as individuals. The word ‘setseno' or 'setsenwa’ is derogatory, but our communities have decided to use it casually, and in most cases, the word is used to belittle one and make them feel small and insignificant.

There is a simple fact that we seem to forget as human beings, mental illness is not earmarked for certain individuals, it is a condition that can affect anyone, at any time. We have placed so much negativity on people seeking help for their mental health, such that people who need assistance have to do so secretly, out of fear that they will be judged and mistreated within their communities.

This is wrong and should be curtailed. We should all take it upon ourselves to seek information about mental health. Just as much as we take care of our physical and general health, we should as equally be able to consult professionals about our mental health without any fear.

Those who believe that they are smarter than the rest of the world, have even coined the informal word ‘shrink’ which refers to a psychiatrist. It is high time that we take care of our mental well-being and consult professionals at the first feeling that something might not be right.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking counselling and there is nothing wrong with consulting professionals to get proper answers about certain changes or experiences that one go through. Information contained at WHO suggests that there are approximately 280 million people in the world who have depression. Next time you think of shaming someone who has a mental illness, remember that we all deserve to be treated with dignity.

Let us all take care of our mental health and take very good care of our sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, and children who suffer mental illness.