The Spouse of the Deputy President Pastor Dorcas Rigathi has opened up about her struggle with mental health issues.
Even though she did not delve into the details, Pastor Dorcas revealed that at some point she contemplated taking her own life.
She noted that was due to circumstances at home when she was still a student at Kenyatta University.
“Do not think that you are the only one who is in that situation,” Pastor Dorcas said.
“I may be the Second Lady in the Republic of Kenya but I can tell you at one time at one point I was in KU and because of circumstances at home I wanted to commit suicide, therefore it is not only you but many people are going through this, mental health is real."
The Second Lady said the mental health situation has been worsened by the African culture which is yet to appreciate that the problem exists.
As a result, those who exhibit mental health symptoms are either said to have been bewitched or labelled as being beyond redemption.
“In Africa, our culture has not appreciated the matters of mental health and therefore when you find a quarrelling mother, an angry parent, a shouting sister all we say they are mad, we say they are bewitched,” she said.
“We look for solutions outside and we give excuses and we say that those people they have no redemption but I have come today to tell you as a mother there is hope.”
She said there is no room for anyone undergoing mental health challenges to give up saying it is possible to be in such a situation and to overcome.
She challenged those experiencing a mental health meltdown to come out and speak, adding that they should strive not to change themselves as individuals but change the way they do things, relate and find someone to talk to.