This archive report was first published on 25 October 2019.
On a candid note, Citizen TV journalist Kimani Mbugua revealed his struggles with depression, which began when he joined Moi University in 2013.
At the time, he was an introvert and shut the world out, feeling like nothing was working out. His depression worsened when his father lost all their property due to poor investment decisions.
Kimani revealed that he had considered taking his own life, opting for starvation as one of his three options. Luckily, his cousin intervened and saved him.
He shared a poignant post he wrote on Facebook in early 2014, where he wrote his own eulogy and told his 'sorry self' RIP. He also contemplated jumping off a waterfall or the fourth floor of his hostel, but fear took control and he settled for starvation.
Kimani's cousin visited him on the third day of his starvation, and he was relieved to know that someone cared. However, he was too ashamed to tell his cousin about his plans to die.
Today, Kimani is in a much better place thanks to therapy. He encourages people not to be ashamed of their struggles and to seek help, especially with panic attacks.
“Anyone, even people with glamorous jobs, can get depression. No one is immune to real-life problems, bad days at work, being in debt and pain. If you are going through it talk to someone. See a therapist. Find something you like doing. Don’t be ashamed.”
