Thanks for the call-out @Ka-Buda and teh rest, here is a very raw text I had a while back, nothing has changed at the moment.
Developing countries are at greater risk non communicable diseases than developed ones. So because the former do not have specific measures to deal with these diseases. One such disease is mental illness, which developing countries actually do not regard as a health concern.
Delving a little into mental health, let us look at an issue that is often swept under the carpet due to the associated taboo and stigma-SUICIDE
If attempting suicide in Kenya, pray to God it succeeds. Otherwise, you will be mocked, jeered, laughed at, beaten even, and stigmatized, often called āyule alijaribu kujiuwaā. Should the police get hold of you, be sure of prosecution for misdemeanour. That is Kenya, which is very unfortunate. Suicide should be a health concern
Suicide is the act of self-harm to cause death. Mostly it is a response to overwhelmingly overbearing emotional pain, hopelessness, feelings of unworthiness e.t.c Often people do not understand why someone would want to take their own life.
Predisposing factors to suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide
Please note; suicidal thoughts are common among most people, Kenyans included. In fact, more cases are now being reported of committed or attempted suicide among our youth and men in Kenya-due to middle age where a lot of challenges rise.Yes, most people have thought of suicide, hata wengine hapa Kijijini. Just that we feel it is too taboo to talk about. Yet, at the same time, more people are suffering, especially survivors. Okay, back to suicidal thoughts
Also known as suicidal ideation, they are divided into two;
a. passive which involves a desire to die without an actual plan, and
b. active suicidal ideation which is a great desire to visit the afterlife, including a meticulous plan of how that is to be exacted. Some can be planned to fail, some to succeed.
People at times attempt suicide, not to succeed but get through to someone. It is a call for help, for someone to listen to the pain and languish they are silently facing. Fruitful suicide could indicate one has seen death as the best alternative to the myriad of problems they are facing.
So, to some predisposing factors, or vulnerabilities.
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Environment-constant bombardment with repetitive negative life events and experiences leading to great stress that overwhelm oneās coping ability i.e grief, sexual abuse, financial problems, remorse, rejection, relationship breakup and unemployment. Availability of a means i.e gun, knife, rope
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Genetic inheritance-family history of mental illness or suicide, increases risk of suicidal thoughts. It is not a given though, even those without such history could think of and commit suicide
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Physical/health-depression or other mental illnesses/health conditions
Abnormally low levels of dopamine and serotonin, previous suicidal attempts, and the fact that you are a a man
Signs and symptoms
[ol]
[li]Feelings of hopelessness, despair, too much stress or depression[/li][li]Abnormal preoccupation with violence, dying and/or death[/li][li]Heightened state of anxiety or panic attacks and severe remorse, paranoia[/li][li]Changing personality, routine or sleep patterns, extreme mood swings[/li][li]Consuming (more) drugs, alcohol or other risky behaviour like reckless driving[/li][li]Getting affairs in order, mending fences with everyone, giving away valued possessions[/li][li]Getting hold of a gun, medications, or substances that could end a life[/li][li]Extreme self-criticism, self loathe, isolation from the world, reduced social activeness[/li][li]Psychomotor agitation - such as pacing around a room, wringing oneās hands, taking off clothing and putting it back on, and other such actions[/li][li]Saying goodbye to others as if it were the last time[/li][li]Seeming to be unable to experience pleasurable emotions from normally pleasurable life events such as eating, exercise, social interaction or sex[/li][li]Talking about killing oneself, expressing regret about being alive or ever having been born.[/li][li]Obsession with cleanliness, or not caring about oneās cleanliness[/li][/ol]
These are some of the things to look for and will often not occur alone. However, one of the surest things to look for is Depression and talking about killing oneself, or asking how it feels, in person or through the internet
Getting help
My mind my funk 22214 I personally recommend her since sheās been there and tried it
Befrienders 020 2051323, [B]00254 707 633 692, 00254 733 656 262, 00254 775 388 222[/B] get country specific contacts here http://www.befrienders.org/
Now that I have mentioned suicide, in future, there shall be something on mental illness
Kindly ask away should you have any queries.