We Need Mental Health Services ASAP

The last 2 weeks have been shocking to many Kenyans in Minnesota, and perhaps the diaspora at large. For one, a friend commited suicide on October 4 with no clear reason as to what could have possibly pushed her over the edge. She left behind her husband and little girl. We are all still searching for answers, even as we prepare for her memorial service tomorrow.


Barely a week later, this story has hit the news and many people are left wondering what's going on in our community. A man simply killed his wife and 2 children in cold blood because he suspected she was cheating on him.There is a major outcry with people suggesting that we need to run back to God and ask for forgiveness and guidance. That's all well and good, but in my opinion, we need to provide mental health services to our fellow Kenyan immigrants. This is not the first time a Kenyan community in the US is being hit with such tragedy.


One of our weaknesses as Kenyans is our lack of appreciation of just how serious mental illness, including depression, really is. Our collective mentality is that this is something that should be swept under the rag and never discussed in public. When you hear the word "mathare hospital", what's the first thing that comes to your mind?


As we immigrate to the Western countries, we encounter many challenges. Many of us come here with high hopes and expectations. And then reality hits us. The culture shock. The long work hours with little pay. Add school, kids, isolation, loneliness, sour relationships, etc and you have the perfect cocktail for depression. Yet, how many of us ever admit out loud that we are depressed? How many of us are willing to seek the services of a counselor to help us cope with the overwhelming circumstances in our lives? The moment you make the "mistake" of confiding in someone about your problems, it becomes fodder for community gossip. And so you choose to keep quiet and suffer in silence.


When you have bottled up feelings of anger, depression, frustration, disappointment, exhaustion, etc, it doesn't take much to make you snap.


Minnesota has a community organization, Mwanyagetinge, that's registered as a non-profit organization. One of its greatest tasks has been creating an office for HIV/AIDS prevention and education. Given the crisis facing our community, I think it's high time we invested as much effort in addressing the mental health of our community. There are many marriages that are in crisis. Many parents that are stressed by their wayward children. Many victims of past and present domestic and sexual abuse. Many people separated from their families. Many people stressed out and burned out from working doubles, raising families and going to school all at the same time. It's not easy for any of us. We're not superhuman. We need a place where we can go to seek professional help. Mental illness, including depression, is a legitimate medical problem. There is no shame in that. We need to make it acceptable for people to admit they can't do it on their own. Because they can't. Perhaps then we'll not come across the last straw that will break the camel's back. Think about it. None of us is immune. Today it's my circle of friends. Tomorrow it could be yours.

Intro

I guess this is the part where I'm supposed to introduce my blog to whoever happens to stumble onto it. Well, at 26, I can say I have lived quite a life, but of course, I still have many years to go. I do wonder though if I'm undergoing an early midlife crisis lately.


Whether or not I am, one thing I'm definitely experiencing right now is the downs of life. And whenever life knocks me down, I run to my journal and pour my heart out to my imaginary friend named "Diary". Perhaps this is a habit that should have died with the uniform after high school. Especially since people have a penchant for snooping through other people's things and trying to discover their secrets. My privacy has been compromised several times, hence I feel I should run to the internet. After all, isn't there some belief out there about net anonymity?


Well, this is about my life as I see it. Any spectators are welcome!