Working & Keeping Sane: Africa's Reality

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For some, being African almost means being constantly against all things that seem westernised. In Africa there are stuff that are referred to as “white people’s things” and mental health is included. This really shows we need a transformation of the mind on mental health across the continent. 

I grew up knowing that most people with mental illness were considered bewitched (yeaaah,  that voodoo stuff, if you wrong your neighbor they make you go crazy kinda stuff). Also, I learnt at a very young age that being mentally distressed is a weakness. In primary school, kids diss each other to test each other’s mental endurance. Those who break down easily are made fun of, with very little knowledge of the effect it has on them. Personally, I always underestimated the harm in jesting at another person’s expense. But I digress.

We all suffer mental distress, but I have come to learn that those who get the worst of it, we are the one's who aren’t considered normal by the status quo. Indeed blessed are those whose true nature isn’t easily dissuaded because they can walk in their freedom of being. Unfortunately there are those who try to compromise because they want to be “normal” too.

The systems we have in this world force us into becoming people we’re not before we even realize it. Most of us who compromise ourselves to fit into a prescribed way of being. All in the name of belonging. But the truth is belonging requires authenticity. Most of the changes we make are in the mind before they’re executed in behavior. Bit by bit our mental health suffers. Why? Because our conscience will always remind us of who we truly are and our minds have to argue in order to preserve the version of us that fits in. A torturous and unfulfilling lifestyle that is.

Ultimately, you lose your sense of self. When you keep trying to be someone you are not to make others comfortable it makes your inner self question your worth. These questions create places of torment in your mind. Your thoughts will be accusing you of not loving yourself enough and at the same time you will be justifying it as how “you’re supposed to be”. I speak from experience. Our mental health and self awareness are almost inseparable components of our lives.

So when you attempt to get therapy, express your mental distress and unpack your thoughts — in Africa you’d be practicing “white people’s things”. This is a problem on its own but we’re not focusing on that today. Rehabilitation was treated like a contagious disease not so long ago, there are still discrepancies about it now. This has caused so many people to commit suicide or get strokes because they can not open up to others about their mental distress. Families have been broken because some people don’t want to be associated by any mental health conditions their family members may have.

How do we move from this place as a people? My heart is for Africa to be more proactive in knowing self and caring about these so called “minor issues” as they’ve been called. A lot of our dysfunction comes from not paying attention to our mental well being. Rash choices, poor judgement and performance, broken relationship being one the more severe end of the spectrum. 

Can we please do better?