A Stalling Career and Broken Relationship Pushed me to Depression – Kaka Tim

Photo | Courtesy

Nairobi has always been the proverbial land of greener pastures. To seek these greener pastures Kaka Tim came to Nairobi with high spirits and there is nothing he looks forward to like financial freedom. Before getting on his feet, a kind cousin offered to host him.

“My career took longer to pick up, but I remained optimistic.” Kaka Tim explains. He caught a break and got a writing engagement where the payment was based on several words. Tim worked so hard and was able to get a decent income monthly. This at the time was adequate to cater for his monthly bills.

My Difficult Childhood Unknowingly Drove me into Depression; Lily Okeyo

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“It is okay not to be okay”. This is a statement taken so casually but carries so much weight. It is estimated that 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression which is the most common type of mental disorder.  

Kenya happens to be ranked 6^th in Africa in the number of depression cases at about 2 million.  It is also estimated that 4 in 5 people who commit suicide are depressed at the time of their death. 

The most common causes of depression are biological changes experienced during pregnancy, genetic predisposition, psychological risks and social factors. (WHO, Kenya Mental Health Policy/Act 2014)

Suicide Awareness and Mitigation

Courtesy: The Book of Man

Suicide is among the top 20 leading causes of death globally and at the same time the second leading cause of death among the youth between the ages of 15-29 years.  According to WHO close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds. 

In Kenya, about 4 people commit suicide daily. However, this is just an estimate and there is the worry that the number could be higher given that suicide is not always indicated as the cause of death.