Let's rethink our health systems to include mental wellbeing

When American 100m Olympic and World Champion Noah Lyles made public his struggles with mental health issues, the world paused and triggered a deeper conversation on a topic many considered sacrilegious.

The vulnerability demonstrated by the Olympian despite his exploits in the track, bravado and showmanship, is predicated by another stir dropped by tennis superstar Naomi Osaka who upon revealing her numerous battles with mental illness, took a long hiatus from the sport.

Mental illness is a silent killer that continues to plague people from all walks. It does not discriminate on the social scale or the structural demographics we are accustomed to. Even children who are supposed to be ecstatic living blissfully, suffer bouts of mental illnesses.

Men of valour, including those that have conquered territories and routed enemies in wars, continue to silently combat debilitating mental issues. The well to do and the privileged in society, who ironically are supposed to be envied and revered by those suffering afflictions, are not spared either.

Even politicians who enjoy greater privileges and gravitate around centre of power, grapple with mental issues.

Those at the bottom of the food chain and base of the societal hierarchy also battle with the mental ailments. No one is immune. The rising cases of death by suicide is alarming. The effects of mental illness on families are grave. The breakups and troubling experiences that follow the nasty break ups are dire.

A tour of our health facilities in the counties paints a sordid picture of the situation bedevilling persons with mental health disorders. The facilities are under resourced with no qualified mental health practitioners commonly known as psychiatrist to attend to the patients.

The situation is exacerbated by ignorant or brutal society that ostracises the sick. Patients are treated with utter disdain, often stigmatised, discriminated upon and sometimes flagrant human rights violations meted on them.

It is galling that 13 years into devolution, no county has adequately provided sustainable mental health systems. It is no longer an option but a necessity for every county and national government to establish well functioning mental clinics.

They should recruit psychiatric nurses, psychologists or counsellors in conjunction with the Counsellors and Psychologist Board. The move by national government to hire mobile community health workers, can be complemented by mobilising collaborative community solving groups to provide psychosocial support to those suffering mental disorders.

The poor are the most hit by mental illnesses. Whether it’s depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other chronic illnesses, the needy are at higher risk of suffering mental disorders.

School children need counselling services having been exposed to structural factors such as violence, ugly family feuds, childhood traumas, sudden job loses, various forms of disabilities, poverty, inequality, peer pressure, sexual abuse, bullying and drugs and substance abuse.

News is awash of officers killing their families, bosses, colleagues and turning the same weapon meant to protect them, on self.  The same officers battling mental disorders are guarding VIPs including prominent politicos. Our talented artists including comedians, guitarists, vocalists and radio presenters who fill our lives with laughter are troubled and running on empty. So are the poets, writers, copywriters, engineers, lawyers, marketers, IT gurus, military officers, the clergy and even health workers.

Because it afflicts even the best and most powerful among us, it behoves us to be more empathetic, more responsive and more responsible. 

When my colleague Senator Hamida Kibwana suggested a special desk to address mental infirmities afflicting politicians, the varied responses it triggered pointed to a huge task ahead to overhaul the warped thinking surrounding the issue.

We all can endeavour to candidly engage on the state of mental health without feeling inadequate or weak. You will be surprised at how many are suffering in silence and how much of help you can be.