There is a silence and a dangerous indifference to mental sickness in Nigeria. Mental illness is often shrouded in deleterious stigmas and misconceptions. Persons suffering from mental sickness are often discriminated against and forced to remain -often, dying- in silence.
Unbeknownst to many, mental ill health is largely under-diagnosed, with many unaware of their mental health status.
Awareness and public knowledge of the issue is lacking, thus creating a system whereby patients suffer in shame and silence, while a culture of discrimination, misconception and stigma is perpetuated. This often result in many shying away from knowing their mental health status.
Today is the #NoShameDay. A day when people share stories about their battle with mental ill-health and also create awareness on the issue.
Social commentator, @birdwithasong, shares her story in the following tweets;
My name is eze. I live with clinical depression and anxiety (scopophobia and agoraphobia) and I have no shame pic.twitter.com/g8F6NHKJiZ
— azubuike (@birdwithsong) July 11, 2016
My toughest struggle on my mental health journey has been with recurrency. #NoShameDay
— azubuike (@birdwithsong) July 11, 2016
I used to always feel restigmatized, each time worse than before. #NoShameDay
— azubuike (@birdwithsong) July 11, 2016
Like I was supposed to know all my triggers, preventative care, avoid them; you know, just handle it better. #NoShameDay
— azubuike (@birdwithsong) July 11, 2016
I always felt people thought “not again”. And this made me feel pressure to “be well”, to “function”. #NoShameDay
— azubuike (@birdwithsong) July 11, 2016
In the 8 years since my diagnosis, it is only recently I have learned that selfcare involves releasing others’ feelings about me #NoShameDay
— azubuike (@birdwithsong) July 11, 2016
More correctly, MY assumption of their feelings about me.
— azubuike (@birdwithsong) July 11, 2016
I have been very intentional with selfcare this year. And I would advise you make that your number 1 priority #NoShameDay
— azubuike (@birdwithsong) July 11, 2016
Be intentional with your selfcare. You never have to explain yourself. #NoShame #NoShameDay
— azubuike (@birdwithsong) July 11, 2016
Please, seek help, if you haven’t. Continue to, if you have. There is absolutely no shame or weakness in that. #NoShameDay
— azubuike (@birdwithsong) July 11, 2016
It is ok. It is a journey. YOUR journey and you are enough. You are enough. #NoShameDay
— azubuike (@birdwithsong) July 11, 2016
Stigma kills. STIGMA KILLS.
— azubuike (@birdwithsong) July 11, 2016
Depression is REAL. Stigma KILLS. Suicide is NOT a joke. Survivors are NOT weak. Human life is NOT fodder for your entertainment. #bekind
— azubuike (@birdwithsong) April 28, 2016
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