On Thursday 10th October 2019 we joined the world in the mental health day to create awareness on mental health. The Stowelink team led by Tyson Okello and Neila Chebet rallied the rest of the team to join the countries celebration which took place in Nairobi Kenya. We participated in the mental health walk with the sole aim of recognizing that IT’S OKAY NOT TO BE OK.
Mental illness in Kenya and Africa as a whole is a stigma that has caused many people to suffer in silence. In Africa mental issues are attributed to either witchcraft or spiritual problem. Government statistics indicate that at least one in every four {1:4} Kenyans suffers from a mental illness at one point in their lives; this is about 11.5 million people.
Kenya has only 88 psychiatrists,427 psychiatrist nurses who are trained to handle mental illness, about 10 medical social workers and a few mental psychologists and counselors who are competent to handle mental issues.
Signs and symptoms of mental illness can vary, depending on the disorder, circumstances and other factors. Mental illness symptoms can affect emotions, thoughts and behaviors.
- Confused/slow thinking
- sadness/irritability{prolonged depression}
- feelings of extreme low or high
- excessive fear, worries and anxiety
- social withdrawal
- dramatic changes in eating /sleeping
- Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations
- Inability to cope with daily problems or stress
- Trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Major changes in eating habits
- Sex drive changes
- Excessive anger, hostility or violence
- Suicidal thinking
Mental health is a common condition that has affected even some of the most iconic people in the world like Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and Isaac Newton among others.
Therefore, take a minute and talk to someone because its ok not to be ok.
Lets change lives
Let’s save lives
#stowelink
REMEMBER-if you want to support Stowelink Inc and our various projects, if you want collaborations with us or if you want to reach us you can reach us directly through the following contact addresses.
PHONE NUMBER+254714671748
email : stowelink@gmail.com
Stowelink Inc 