I had an accident that led to me losing a close friend. Having not dealt with it, i started developing fears of losing other loved ones, being in vehicles and slowly and over a period i developed many patterns of behaviors and anxiety. I was unable to leave my house, go to work and many more things so i lost my social circle and put serious strain on my relationship and children. Knowing what i was experiencing was not an act, needed support through therapy helped me get back to normality. I believe we all need support when we are going through hardships and we should not be ashamed of admitting when we are finding coping with life's ups and down hard. I have my life back and if it was not for specialist help, i would still be hiding unaware of conditions i had developed after my accident. We need services that can help more people.

I never understood why i was feeling so low when i appeared to have everything around me. I did not understand why i had no motivation, why i felt alone and wanted to be alone or why everyone and everything seemed to upset and irritate me. I felt like i was drowning in sorrow. The more i tried to hide it from my friends, colleagues and family, the harder the burden became. I did not know where to go, who to speak to or if this was a common thing as no one i knew had ever spoken about feeling this way. Going to online platforms helped me understand it. I also got help and i understood i had depression. After getting better, i eventually decided to learn more and find and help others going through the same. We should not be embarrassed about mental health. We need to talk to our families and friends about it. families and friends should support those who are suffering in silence because some of the phases do not last forever.

We have compassion and sympathy for people struggling with physical health difficulties, we need to have similar compassion and sympathy with people experiencing mental health difficulties.

Individual therapy is also called therapy, psychotherapy, psychosocial therapy, talk therapy, and counseling. It is a joint process between a licensed therapist and a person in treatment. The goal of therapy is often to inspire change and improve quality of life. People might seek therapy for help with personal, educational, social, or career challenges that are hard to face alone.

Therapy can help people overcome obstacles to emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental well-being. It can also increase positive feelings, such as compassion and self-esteem. People in therapy can learn healthy skills for managing difficult situations, making positive decisions, and reaching goals. Many find they enjoy the therapeutic journey of becoming more self-aware. Some people pursue ongoing therapy for self-growth.

History of Individual Psychotherapy

The term “psychotherapy” comes from the Greek words for soul and healing. Ancient Greeks may have been the first to view mental health issues as physical and mental conditions. At the time, other cultures understood them as the result of demonic possession. Still, the Greeks' understanding of mental health issues was limited. They did recognize the benefits of using encouraging words when speaking to people with mental health issues. But, they also had many false beliefs about mental health. For example, they thought only women experienced hysteria. The also believed that bathing was an effective treatment for people with depression.

Treatment for severe mental health conditions was often harsh and inhumane before reformers worked for better conditions during the 18th century. In 1773, the first asylum in North America was founded. By the end of the 19th century, most American towns had an asylum. However, individuals admitted to an asylum rarely left the facility. This led to a steadily increasing population of institutionalized people. It was not uncommon for care at asylums to include the use of restraints and violent treatment by doctors.

It’s likely that informal types of therapy were practiced throughout human history. However, modern psychotherapy developed near the end of the 19th century in Western Europe. During this time, the first laboratory for psychological research was established by Wilhelm Wundt, and  Sigmund Freud’s “talking cure” laid the foundation for psychoanalysis. 

Many therapeutic techniques flourished in the 20th century. These techniques were largely inspired by popular schools of thought at the time. Some of these schools of thought include psychoanalysis, behaviorism, cognitivism, and systems psychology. In the 21st century, there are many treatments that incorporate diverse fields, such as mindfulness and neurobiology. Many approaches focus on helping people in treatment identify their concerns, foster personal growth, and develop healthy coping skills.

We promote awareness through hidden voices ambassadors. Who get trained up on what mental health is, how it affects and ways of supporting individuals. They then speak to communities in whatever platforms are available like churches, colleges, schools and universities to raise awareness about mental health.

Hidden Voices main goal is to raise awareness on mental health and champion for equity on health services for people living with mental illnesses.

As World Mental Health day rolls around again, there's a lot of reminders about the individual habits that contribute to mental health; exercising, putting your phone down, going to therapy, eating well and the requisite prompts about reaching out to friends or family who are depressed, and seeking help if you are. These are of course important reminders and worthwhile habits, but the bigger question might be this: Why are so many people are suffering so much in the first place, if not from clinical depression, then from a low-grade sense of unhappiness and emptiness?

If you boil all the components, loneliness might emerge as one of the biggest threats to mental health there is. An increasing amount of research in the last few years has revealed exactly this. For instance, Americans who say they don't have a single confidant has tripled in the last few decades. And a large-scale study from the Kaiser Family Foundation last month looked at loneliness patterns in the U.S., U.K., and Japan. Two-thirds of people say they have just a few or no friends or relatives nearby to lend support. And two in 10 people said they felt alone much of the time or always.

Another study earlier this year found that about half of Americans reported feeling alone sometimes or always. The numbers are even higher for older people, who may be more likely to  live alone, or have spouses and friends who have passed away. The U.K has begun to take the issue somewhat more seriously than we do here in the U.S. The country has an appointed Minister for Loneliness to combat what Theresa May calls the "sad reality of modern life" for people of all ages.

And it's true that modern life seems to be chipping away those social connections that are so critical for our mental health. We're deeply social creatures, and evolved to be so. We lived in groups for many thousands of years - living isolated lives as we do nowadays goes counter to our innate psychological needs. Many people live hundreds or thousands of miles away from their families, and most simply don't have the same kinds of village as humans evolved to live in, let alone raise kids in.

It's not just adults and older people. Tweens and teens appear also to be feeling this, though perhaps for different reasons from adults. Screens may play a bigger role in their lives, and affect their social lives as least as much. Kids are not only digital natives these days, but social media natives as well. Indeed, a number of studies have found that more time on screens is linked to teen depression and even suicidality, while in-person social interaction is linked to better mental health. This is not particularly surprising, but it is ironic. (And it should be mentioned that in the last year, some of the developers of social media have expressed regret about their role in its creation, and some won't even let their own kids on it.)

And a complementary body of research had illustrated again and again that having strong social connections is linked not only to happiness over the years, but also to long-term health as we age. Harvard's well-known  longevity study, spanning 80 years, found that social connection appears to be the key variable that's linked to greater happiness and well-being, as well as a longer life.

So on this World Mental Health day, take some time to think about not just the individual habits you carry out, but also more generally about how your life is structured. Are there things you could do to increase your connection to others in a more global way, like living nearer to relatives or making commitments to your community members or local projects? Thinking not just about the little everyday things, but also the larger questions about how we structure our lives, may be a big part of investing in our own well-being, and that of those around us.

Kenyan music producer Magix Enga has clarified the ‘suicidal post’ he shared on social media at the weekend.

The Genge producer on Friday night struck the internet with a cryptic suicidal message on his Instagram account, telling his concerned followers he was going to “die tonight”.

“I am going to die tonight. I am going to miss everyone,” read the post, which has since been deleted.

However, the following day, Magix assured his fans he was alright and revealed his post resulted from drunkenness.

The music producer thanked those who reached out to him, adding that he was done with alcohol.

“Heey, I’m not dead. I appreciate having such caring fans and family. I just can’t give up now. I was drunk zikanisho ni weke post ya umbwakni pombe sio supu mimi nimewacha,” he said in another post that has since also been deleted.

He again took to Twitter and posted a picture of a gin bottle and warned his fans against taking alcohol and posting on social media.

“Warning! Delete your social media applications before you drink this alcohol, it comes with a spirit that can type and post anything,” said Magix.

In March, the producer opened up on how he fell into drug addiction and twisted out of control.

Taking to his Instagram page, Enga said drugs transformed him into someone he would have never dream of adding he has been in rehab for three months.

“Nimetoka rehab and this is how to deal with life pressure. People today are overworked and overwhelmed, and often feel like a good break or a reward is deserved. But in the end, drugs only make life more stressful and many of us all too often fail to recognize this at the moment.

To prevent using drugs as a reward, find other ways to handle stress and unwind. Take up exercising, read a good book, volunteer with the needy, create something. Anything positive and relaxing helps take the mind off using drugs to relieve stress.

I really appreciate the love and support from the 2017 Nimeamua nikienda for about three months and now am back with a new song #NIAMINI my advice to teen, young and upcoming musicians and music producers avoid drug as you can.” he shared.

Christine Kamene has contemplated suicide several times since December 10th, 2020.
A single mother of three girls, aged 5, 10 and 13, Christine works as a labourer, washing people"s clothes and gardening to feed them. She had left "Mary" (not her real name,) the 10-year old at a St, Catherine Orthodox Childcare Center, where her other 5-year old attends under the care of the "Christian family" that owns and lives in the property so they could help her to take her mid-day dose. Little did she know she had left her sick girl to a hyena, as the "78-year old owner and elder" of the Orthodox Church sodomized her 10-year old, beat her up and threatened to behead her if she told anyone it was him. The little girl was allegedly told her to say she was raped by some people outside the compound, a version she maintained for two days, as her mother sought for treatment in several facilities for her badly torn private organs. A Good Samaritan assisted her with fare to Nairobi Women Hospital where "Mary" continued with treatment for the next 6 months.

In the meantime, when "Mary" finally revealed who had sodomized her, by the name David Njoroge Karanja, (whom she calls "Guka" i.e., grandfather) and the matter was reported at Githurai Mwiki Police Station, the suspect was locked up over the weekend (OB. No 52/15/12/2020). That evening, Christine was visited by the son of the suspect and his wife and 3 other "senior church elders" who warned her against "tainting" the name of the "highly respected elder" as there would be consequences. The visit worsened the state of the traumatized girl who crawled under the bed in pain having lost control of both urine and feaces. Although all this happened on 15th December, 2021, the matter was mentioned in January, 2021 and a different "young" man produced in court to take plea. It was only after protest by Christine to the judge that the "real" old man was brought. Even then, the suspect was released on ksh, 200, 000 bond (Case No 52/15/12/2020).

The son of the perpetrator went again 0n 25th January at 1310 hours to warn her further that he will kill her himself if his father went to prison. Although Christine reported the threats at the police station (OB No 26/25/01/21), no action was taken. When the case was mentioned in 2nd March, 2021, Christine and her daughter allege to have been verbally warned by the brother of the accused- that he wouldn"t hesitate to harm them to protect his brother. The case has never began and there is hostility even from the investigating officer, to a point that the pant "Mary" was wearing during the incident has never been received as an exhibit, even though the doctor had stapled and labeled it after examining the girl.

Consequent to the above events;
Christine was so traumatized by the sight of the damage to her daughter"s privates, that she was never able to touch or wash her-it took a close friend to wash and nurse her damaged section.

Kenyan rugby player Dennis Ombachi has lifted the lid on his battle with mental health, revealing he suffers from Bipolar disorder.

He opened up on this condition on his Twitter page and also disclosed he’s battled depression.

These conditions, he adds, have affected both his life and that of his family.

“I am Dennis Ombachi, kind of an international rugby player and a guy who’s passionate about cooking, what many people don’t know is that I am medically diagnosed with bipolar disorder. For many years I have struggled with this & depression. I would usually disappear from social media & occasionally miss flights when I had made the team. This behaviour was always blamed on me “just being Dennis”. What my coaches and teammates didn’t know was how much pain I was in,” he began by saying.

The 30-year-old nicknamed the Ghost Worker cum the Roaming Chef because of his extreme love for cooking, described bipolar as a sudden yet extreme shift of moods that comes without warning.

He, however, has assured his fans that he is managing the condition by taking medication.

“For those who don’t know, Bipolar disorder means my moods can swing from elation to depression without warning; however, as long as I take my medication, I’m usually good. This has taken a toll on my family life over the years and I am thankful for the support I have received. When I say family, include the friends who have stuck by me and walked with me through the darkness all these years,” he added.

According to the Ombachi who has turned out for the Kenya Sevens team at international events, many athletes and ordinary people struggle with mental health.

To curb that, he suggests having more talks around the topic to help them realize what they are going through is completely fine and will soon be okay.

“Mental Health is affecting so many people, but no one will come forward and talk about it because it’s considered taboo in our culture. For me, let me be the one. Many athletes and many ordinary people are facing this daily and they need help and understanding. If we talk about this more, then more people will no longer suffer in silence, the way I have all these years. I don’t need pity, I just want us to be more open to seeking professional help when we need it,” he wrote.

According to the data from Athletes for Hope, an association that aims to educate, encourage, and assist athletes, up to 35 per cent of elite athletes suffer from a mental health crisis that may manifest as stress, eating disorders, burnout, or depression and anxiety.

Responding to Ombachi, Kenya 15s head coach Paul Odera said there’s a need for tacticians to establish a positive relationship with their squads in order to give the players more confidence in sharing mental health problems they may be experiencing.

“Ombachi, your tweets on mental health have given me the courage and inspiration to do better as a national coach. You have shown that mental health in rugby needs coaches to know players as human beings first. Thank you for your bravery and leadership,” he responded.

The father of one recently landed an ambassadorial role with Bidco Africa Limited through their new Golden Fry cooking oil, thanks to his carpentry, fitness, culinary, and butchery skills that have helped him attract a huge following on social media.

World Health Organization (WHO) boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has publicly supported tennis star Naomi Osaka’s move to withdraw from the French Open.

Via post on Twitter, Tedros also congratulated the 23-year-old for speaking about mental health.

“I congratulate Naomi Osaka for having the courage to speak out about her #mentalhealth – and at a time when the world was watching. Mental health is essential to our overall well-being, and we all have a responsibility to protect that in whatever way works for us,” he tweeted.

Osaka’s decision to pull out of the competition came after the tournament, also called Roland Garros, fined her $15,000(1.6 million) for not speaking to the media following her first-round match on Sunday.

The four-time major champion citing mental health reasons announced on Twitter last Wednesday that she would not participate in any news conferences at the tournament.

She then pulled out of the tournament a day after the four Grand Slam tournament organizers threatened to expel her for not talking to the media.

“I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players, and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris. I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept my timing was not ideal, and my message could have been clearer,” she said.

Osaka had earlier explained she had been battling mental health issues.

Stage 1 is the “ideation” stage, during which a depressed person finds him/herself thinking about suicide more and more. However, the fear of suicide still outweighs its attraction. Therefore, the person may be thinking dark thoughts (“my family would be better off without me”), obsessing over dark music (i.e., playing the same depressing song over and over again), or expressing thoughts of death, suicide, pain, and hopelessness through artistic expression, but has not yet begun to formulate a specific plan.

2. Planning stage, during which the person’s dark thoughts begin to turn to formulating a specific plan for suicide. Friends and family may notice the person’s depression worsening, and observe their loved one begin to withdraw from touching others or from being touched by others, or they may stop verbalizing their pain and suffering while seeming to be in more pain than ever. 
People in Stage 2 are not imminently lethal, although they are in critical need of effective psychological care.
It rarely lasts longer than several months because it is a very psychologically painful place to be. The person feels compelled to make a decision to suicide (thus moving into Stage 3) or not to suicide at that time; a decision that most people do not discuss with loved ones and often wrestle with in isolation.

Stage 3 begins when the suicidal person makes the decision to suicide. The moment the decision is made, it goes “unconscious” and the person goes on what we call “auto-pilot.” They seem more “normal” than they have seemed in a long time.   At this point, the depression seems to suddenly lift because the person has made the decision to die and is no longer wrestling with the decision.  People on “auto-pilot” typically attempt suicide within the next 48 hours.

Be alert when a depressed patient who doesn’t seem to improve after months of intervention suddenly seems to get better. Instead of relaxing, we should become more vigilant when we see a sudden, overnight improvement.

We should listen closely to any indication that the individual has decided to end their life and mobilize support among family.

#Suicide Awareness Month #Reach Out #We care