This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
According to the World Health Organization, depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting over 1.9 million people in Kenya alone. In the past decade, cases of suicide in the country have risen at an alarming rate of 58 per cent, with more men likely to die through suicide than women.
Victor Khamisi, a mental health advocate, attributes the problem to the extensive burden of masculinity, which has often been used against men as they are viewed as immune to and devoid of feelings or expressing emotions.
“Men are constantly stigmatized and seen as superhuman. However, when left alone, men battle serious trauma that leads to depression and in some extreme cases, suicide. I know this because I have experienced it before,” Khamisi said.
As a victim of sodomy as a teenager, Khamisi was in constant emotional and physical pain, yet he never spoke out. Even after he moved out of his uncle's home, he faced constant rejection that took a heavy toll on him.
“Because of the constant abuse, I decided to go live in the streets. I still had a lot of unresolved issues which led to further depression. I remember trying to take my life twice by drinking acid,” an emotional Khamisi says.
Psychiatrist Lukoye Atwoli notes that depression in men requires keen observation, and it is crucial for people to familiarize themselves with the diagnostic criteria in persons presenting with symptoms.
“Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek a consultation with a mental health professional. Depression is treatable and most people are able to continue with their normal life after treatment,” Atwoli said.
Infotrak research shows that 81 per cent of the population feel anxious and stressed about the COVID-19 pandemic, while 61 per cent feel lonely, 52 per cent feel helpless, and 33 per cent feel angry.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe described depression as “a silent, invisible killer that is affecting our nation and the globe.”
Dr Habil Otanga, a lecturer at the Department of Psychology, UoN, notes that the public health actions taken to combat the spread of COVID-19 have brought about anxiety and feelings of isolation, while for other Kenyans, the containment measures have yielded feelings of suffocation.
“Such measures can produce a wide range of psychological effects, including post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, feelings of confusion, anger and fear, and even substance misuse,” Otanga says.
