OPINION | Social Media is becoming a catalyst for mental illness in Kenya. A case study of Norman Magaya

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 3- When Norman Magaya decided to speak out on Monday evening, a lot must have gone through his mind.

But it was clear he didn’t care anymore; “Damn the consequences,” he wrote on a viral Twitter thread.

He also made it clear he was not in anyway seeking sympathy from the tweets.

“I share this not to seek any sympathy nor seek support! I am happy to bear my current position because I have earned it. Given another opportunity I would take the same position. Democracy has a price and am happy pay my part,” he said.

But it’s economist Dr David Ndii’s tweet that caught everyone’s attention. Magaya, in a text to Dr Ndii, created a picture of a man who had given up.

“Bro decided to go open. I am off and out. I doubt I will last this night. Keep the memories,” Dr Ndii said the lawyer had sent him this, as a text message.

But shortly after, the saying that you shouldn’t  kick a man when he is down was literally kicked out of the horizon, and a section of bloggers caused a near stampede on social media doing exactly that…shaming him and exposing his underbelly even more.

From his choice of lifestyle to financial discipline or lack of it, to where he resides, how much he earns.. it was all poured on Twitter.

This was not only regrettable but shameful.

While I’m not privy to more details than what Magaya posted on Twitter, I know the man needs help.

He is not alone.

Thousands if not millions of Kenyans are going through such or more complicated situations.

Numbers don’t lie; cases of domestic violence and suicide are on an all time high and that has been attributed to mental illness.

Kenyans are angry. Kenyans are bitter. Kenyans are broke.

A cocktail of so many things have exposed people to mental illness…and it’s even hard during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The burden becomes even heavier when you are unwell and in need of frequent medical attention.

This will cost you an arm and a leg and more so in Kenya.

Magaya said so.

He has been unwell for years and he admitted that the cost of treatment was weighing down on him.

In return, bloggers reminded him of his so called mistakes.

But at what point do we draw the line? At what point do speak out? And in the age of mental illness, do we still man up?

There are some of the questions I would like to pose to those who’ve made excellent choices in life and can’t stand the Magaya’s of this world.

Then I would ask you who’s imperfect; who between the heartless bloggers asking you to die silently in your own problems and the one speaking out like Magaya, is sick or sicker?

Taxpayers money was spent to come up with a myriad of recommendations over this problem…mental illness. No one is immune.

And remember, we shouldn’t kick a man when he’s already down, no matter his past choices, if at all they matter.

Show them some love first.

It is estimated that six million Kenyans suffer from common mental conditions such as depression,  stress and anxiety.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Annual Report ranks Kenya as sixth among African countries with highest rates of depression at 1.9 million cases.

The Taskforce on Mental Health recommended that mental illness should be declared a National Emergency of epidemic proportions, to prioritize mental health as a priority public health and socioeconomic agenda.

The Taskforce also recommended the establishment of a mental health commission and happiness, to advise, coordinate and continuously monitor the status of mental health, and report on the annual National Happiness Index.

It is about time the recommendations are implemented.

Meanwhile, stop the social media bullying.