Depression must be Demystified

About 15 years ago, I lost a distant relation to what I came to realize was depression years on. This relation had a very good job, beautiful family and was rich. He set himself ablaze in his office on a Sunday afternoon. It was later to be said that, he was facing financial troubles and his marriage was under serious strain. The pressure got to him. He took his life.

In 2014, I tweeted about the need for Ghanaians to publicly speak on the issue of depression. This was before I chanced on an article in which the Chief Psychiatrist of the Ghana Health Services, Dr. Akwasi Osei, was quoted as saying that, the figure on depression stood at 10,250 nationwide.

My tweet received different responses; with some sharing a bit of their own stories. Others made joking comments including the infamous ‘depression is a white people’s disease’. Further discussion on the matter revealed that, friends of mine had or were battling depression; with some having attempted suicide. Those stories gave me chills.

It is easy for people to dismiss the issues of depression because of its nature. The debilitation is subliminal, gradually gathering pace before taking a devastating blow on the sufferer. For me, the gross nature of depression induced deaths is enough reason to cause an open discussion(s) about the condition. Jumping from high rise building, cutting wrists, blowing one’s head, deliberately getting killed by a train or vehicle and like my relation, setting oneself on fire is not rational.

Depression must be demystified. The thinking that blacks aren’t susceptible to depression must be revised. The absurd notion that anyone who checks into a mental health facility is ‘mad’ must be erased. The stereotyping harms victims of depression than help them.

We must all join the fight.

-Ibrahim (Rahim) Muniru. Follow him on Twitter @swayekidd

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