This archive report was first published on 29 December 2019.
On December 24, 2019, photographer Abiud Maina shared a poignant farewell letter on Facebook, five days after wishing his friends and family a merry Christmas.
Tragically, Abiud took his own life shortly after posting the emotional message.
His colleague Nick Klaus revealed the news on social media, sharing Abiud's final words with the world.
Abiud's Heartfelt Goodbye ¶
Abiud's Facebook post began with a reflection on the challenges of 2019, but also expressed hope and faith in the face of adversity.
He wrote about meeting people struggling with depression and how it changed his perspective on life.
Depression changes u, you may look the same but everything else is different, you act differently, move differently, you speak differently, everything about you is so different that you forget who you are.
Abiud also spoke about the importance of speaking out against depression, urging his friends and family to pay attention to changes in behavior.
He ended his post with a powerful message, using the hashtags #EndOfAnEra, #DepressionIsReal, and #PayAttentionToYourFriendBehaviorChange.
