- Waweru Muthumbi started feeling neglected and disowned by his
- Julian Onyango's is the son of an alcoholic father; he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder; with medication, he can live a normal life.
During Mental Health Week, heroes describe their ordeals and how they are overcoming them.
Waweru Muthumbi started feeling neglected and disowned by his family after he joined Form 1. He attempted suicide three times.
He described to the Star years of mental disorder.
Muthumbi was the lastborn in a family of five and his siblings treated him like a spoiled brat; he was isolated.
In Form 3, his coping mechanism was heavy drinking, he became an addict. Everyone told him to stop.
He couldn't stop and couldn't join college after completing Form 4.
Years later, after his first suicide attempt, he was diagnosed with depression and obstructive anxiety.
His wife and son left him because he was drunk all the time.
He lost both his parents in three years. Again he attempted suicide.
“I saw myself as a worthless person and I developed paranoia. I met strangers who told me my only option was death," Muthumbi said.
He was taken to an alcohol rehabilitation centre. He was recovering and life was returning to normal.
In 2018, Muthumbi thought he had fully recovered, though recovery is a lifelong process. He started a new family, became a ride-hailing driver and relocated to Nairobi.
However, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, he had no work.
“My business was doing well until March 2020 when I stopped the business. I was frustrated, I had no one to talk to. My wife expected me to provide but I was not able," he said.
Muthumbi took an emotional nosedive, became violent and was provoked by petty things.
“I would punch the wall because I did not want to beat my wife. She felt unsafe and scared of me, she told me to give her a break one month ago,” he said.
He sought help from Basic Needs Basic Rights. The organisation helped him via a psychologist and psychiatrist.
Currently, he is under medication and each month he has two appointments with a psychologist and another with the psychiatrist.
He's doing much better.
Julian Onyango's father was a violent alcoholic and his home was toxic.
Julian too became an alcoholic.
He sought medical assistance without the knowledge of his wife; he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Julian is currently on medication and he is stable. Life is brighter and his wife says he is doing well.
Clinical psychologist Geoffrey Khira told the Star mental illness does not have to manifest itself as 'madness'.
“With most people with mental issues, you'll find it starts with things like mood swings. Violence means something is not okay," Khira said. Different mental problems manifest with different symptoms.
He said anyone can be mentally unstable and have problems. In children, problems often manifest when they grow up.
“How you raise your kids and take care of their mental well-being really matters as they pick traits from their environment and from you," Khira said.
(Edited by V. Graham)