Rising Above Mental Health Challenges and Stigma | Sitawa Wafula | TEDxKilimani

when I was in my third year of high

when I was in my third year of high school my dad and I started this thing

school my dad and I started this thing

school my dad and I started this thing of trading letters so every few weeks I

of trading letters so every few weeks I

of trading letters so every few weeks I would write a letter to him or he would

would write a letter to him or he would

would write a letter to him or he would like write a letter to me and in the

like write a letter to me and in the

like write a letter to me and in the letters would tell each other how our

letters would tell each other how our

letters would tell each other how our weeks were and what we planned for the

weeks were and what we planned for the

weeks were and what we planned for the next week so one day I received a letter

next week so one day I received a letter

next week so one day I received a letter from him and it had a printout and they

from him and it had a printout and they

from him and it had a printout and they had in on that printout was advisory but

had in on that printout was advisory but

had in on that printout was advisory but I’d like to call this story the coffee

I’d like to call this story the coffee

I’d like to call this story the coffee bean story because it is my story and I

bean story because it is my story and I

bean story because it is my story and I see myself as a coffee bean there’s a

see myself as a coffee bean there’s a

see myself as a coffee bean there’s a man who was a cook and he had a teenage

man who was a cook and he had a teenage

man who was a cook and he had a teenage daughter and the daughter I wanted to go

daughter and the daughter I wanted to go

daughter and the daughter I wanted to go to the mall to hang out with her friends

to the mall to hang out with her friends

to the mall to hang out with her friends and so he took her to the kitchen when

and so he took her to the kitchen when

and so he took her to the kitchen when she asked for some money to go and hang

she asked for some money to go and hang

she asked for some money to go and hang out with her friends

out with her friends

out with her friends he took her to the kitchen and took

he took her to the kitchen and took

he took her to the kitchen and took three super ears three pans in one he

three super ears three pans in one he

three super ears three pans in one he put some carrots in the next he put some

put some carrots in the next he put some

put some carrots in the next he put some eggs and in the side when he put some

eggs and in the side when he put some

eggs and in the side when he put some coffee beans and then he puts equal

coffee beans and then he puts equal

coffee beans and then he puts equal amount of water and he put them on the

amount of water and he put them on the

amount of water and he put them on the fire after some time the girl started

fire after some time the girl started

fire after some time the girl started wondering how is this going to give me

wondering how is this going to give me

wondering how is this going to give me money how will I go and hang out with my

money how will I go and hang out with my

money how will I go and hang out with my friends then he took three bulls in one

friends then he took three bulls in one

friends then he took three bulls in one he put the carrots in the second he put

he put the carrots in the second he put

he put the carrots in the second he put the eggs and inside he put the coffee

the eggs and inside he put the coffee

the eggs and inside he put the coffee beans and he asked her what do you see

beans and he asked her what do you see

beans and he asked her what do you see and she was bought at this time so she

and she was bought at this time so she

and she was bought at this time so she just said loosely I see some mashed up

just said loosely I see some mashed up

just said loosely I see some mashed up carrots I see some eggs that have a

carrots I see some eggs that have a

carrots I see some eggs that have a hard-boiled and I see some coffee beans

hard-boiled and I see some coffee beans

hard-boiled and I see some coffee beans that have changed the colour of the

that have changed the colour of the

that have changed the colour of the water and he said this is exactly what I

water and he said this is exactly what I

water and he said this is exactly what I wanted you to see in life we all go

wanted you to see in life we all go

wanted you to see in life we all go through some form of adversary’

through some form of adversary’

through some form of adversary’ some form of hot water

some form of hot water

some form of hot water and some people are like carrots they’re

and some people are like carrots they’re

and some people are like carrots they’re strong and orange and flashy and you can

strong and orange and flashy and you can

strong and orange and flashy and you can see them from afar but once they go

see them from afar but once they go

see them from afar but once they go through the hot water they become mashed

through the hot water they become mashed

through the hot water they become mashed up sometimes even tasteless when you put

up sometimes even tasteless when you put

up sometimes even tasteless when you put mountain and other people are like the

mountain and other people are like the

mountain and other people are like the eggs they’re so fragile and they can’t

eggs they’re so fragile and they can’t

eggs they’re so fragile and they can’t stand on their own but once they go

stand on their own but once they go

stand on their own but once they go through the hot water they are strong

through the hot water they are strong

through the hot water they are strong they’re hard-boiled then there is final

they’re hard-boiled then there is final

they’re hard-boiled then there is final group the coffee beans they do not let

group the coffee beans they do not let

group the coffee beans they do not let the color of the water change them but

the color of the water change them but

the color of the water change them but they change the color of the water and

they change the color of the water and

they change the color of the water and he finished by asking her of these three

he finished by asking her of these three

he finished by asking her of these three which one do you identify mostly I felt

which one do you identify mostly I felt

which one do you identify mostly I felt like my dad had asked me that question

like my dad had asked me that question

like my dad had asked me that question so in my response to him I told him that

so in my response to him I told him that

so in my response to him I told him that I am a coffee bean I want to change the

I am a coffee bean I want to change the

I am a coffee bean I want to change the color of the water little did I know

color of the water little did I know

color of the water little did I know that in my third year of high school I

that in my third year of high school I

that in my third year of high school I was making a statement that I would live

was making a statement that I would live

was making a statement that I would live with for the rest of my life the next

with for the rest of my life the next

with for the rest of my life the next year I was diagnosed with epilepsy I had

year I was diagnosed with epilepsy I had

year I was diagnosed with epilepsy I had to spend most of my time out of school

to spend most of my time out of school

to spend most of my time out of school and only came back during the final

and only came back during the final

and only came back during the final exams which i sat mom passed and was

exams which i sat mom passed and was

exams which i sat mom passed and was admitted at the University of Nairobi to

admitted at the University of Nairobi to

admitted at the University of Nairobi to pursue a degree in actuarial sense but

pursue a degree in actuarial sense but

pursue a degree in actuarial sense but as I was waiting to go to uni I was

as I was waiting to go to uni I was

as I was waiting to go to uni I was sexually assaulted by someone in you and

sexually assaulted by someone in you and

sexually assaulted by someone in you and so I went to uni and could only stay for

so I went to uni and could only stay for

so I went to uni and could only stay for two years and I dropped out because I

two years and I dropped out because I

two years and I dropped out because I didn’t have proper support system and I

didn’t have proper support system and I

didn’t have proper support system and I didn’t have good coping mechanisms I got

didn’t have good coping mechanisms I got

didn’t have good coping mechanisms I got a job after that and I was fired from

a job after that and I was fired from

a job after that and I was fired from that job I had a seizure in the

that job I had a seizure in the

that job I had a seizure in the workplace and fell on a client and so I

workplace and fell on a client and so I

workplace and fell on a client and so I was fired then chucked trauma from the

was fired then chucked trauma from the

was fired then chucked trauma from the repo deal was later diagnosed as bipolar

out of university out of a job with two

out of university out of a job with two illnesses that no one knows much about

illnesses that no one knows much about

illnesses that no one knows much about and so I got really really depressed to

and so I got really really depressed to

and so I got really really depressed to the point of suicide and I got to a

the point of suicide and I got to a

the point of suicide and I got to a point where I felt the universe was

point where I felt the universe was

point where I felt the universe was asking me of these three things which

asking me of these three things which

asking me of these three things which one are you are you going to be mashed

one are you are you going to be mashed

one are you are you going to be mashed up carrots because of your experiences

up carrots because of your experiences

up carrots because of your experiences are you going to be a hard-boiled egg

are you going to be a hard-boiled egg

are you going to be a hard-boiled egg are you going to be a coffee bean and

are you going to be a coffee bean and

are you going to be a coffee bean and change the color of the water Africa as

change the color of the water Africa as

change the color of the water Africa as a continent has gone through its fair

a continent has gone through its fair

a continent has gone through its fair share of hot water we’ve had most of the

share of hot water we’ve had most of the

share of hot water we’ve had most of the things being said here we’ve had about

things being said here we’ve had about

things being said here we’ve had about leadership we’ve had about corruption

leadership we’ve had about corruption

leadership we’ve had about corruption we’ve had about diseases we’ve had about

we’ve had about diseases we’ve had about

we’ve had about diseases we’ve had about harmful cultural practices and almost

harmful cultural practices and almost

harmful cultural practices and almost every day we as Africans wake up and

every day we as Africans wake up and

every day we as Africans wake up and face that question do we want to be

face that question do we want to be

face that question do we want to be mashed up carrot so hard boiled eggs or

mashed up carrot so hard boiled eggs or

mashed up carrot so hard boiled eggs or coffee beans that change the colour of

coffee beans that change the colour of

coffee beans that change the colour of the water and something we never really

the water and something we never really

the water and something we never really talk about something that we even

talk about something that we even

talk about something that we even consider a taboo is the psychological

consider a taboo is the psychological

consider a taboo is the psychological effects of all these things World Health

effects of all these things World Health

effects of all these things World Health Organization estimates it estimates the

Organization estimates it estimates the

Organization estimates it estimates the one in every four of us will experience

one in every four of us will experience

one in every four of us will experience a mental health condition so just the

a mental health condition so just the

a mental health condition so just the way you’ve said count four and then one

way you’ve said count four and then one

way you’ve said count four and then one of you would be holding it out for the

of you would be holding it out for the

of you would be holding it out for the team

and all these people should they have

and all these people should they have the information and the resources and

the information and the resources and

the information and the resources and should they live in a country like Kenya

should they live in a country like Kenya

should they live in a country like Kenya will have to compete for the services of

will have to compete for the services of

will have to compete for the services of only 79 psychiatrists that’s one in

only 79 psychiatrists that’s one in

only 79 psychiatrists that’s one in roughly 500,000 Kenyans are compete for

roughly 500,000 Kenyans are compete for

roughly 500,000 Kenyans are compete for space in one major referral hospitals

space in one major referral hospitals

space in one major referral hospitals and when we talk about one in every four

and when we talk about one in every four

and when we talk about one in every four of us we mean that at least one person

of us we mean that at least one person

of us we mean that at least one person in each household in this country having

in each household in this country having

in each household in this country having a brush with depression or anxiety

a brush with depression or anxiety

a brush with depression or anxiety disorders or like me having bipolar or

disorders or like me having bipolar or

disorders or like me having bipolar or even having schizophrenia one in every

even having schizophrenia one in every

even having schizophrenia one in every person in this household been told that

person in this household been told that

person in this household been told that what they have might be a spirit or

what they have might be a spirit or

what they have might be a spirit or maybe as a result of witchcraft one in

maybe as a result of witchcraft one in

maybe as a result of witchcraft one in every four of us finding themselves in

every four of us finding themselves in

every four of us finding themselves in that space where they have to decide if

that space where they have to decide if

that space where they have to decide if they’ll be mashed up carrots or eggs or

they’ll be mashed up carrots or eggs or

they’ll be mashed up carrots or eggs or coffee beans that change the color of

coffee beans that change the color of

coffee beans that change the color of the water so when I think of New

the water so when I think of New

the water so when I think of New Horizons in Africa I don’t think of new

Horizons in Africa I don’t think of new

Horizons in Africa I don’t think of new innovations I think of new ways of doing

innovations I think of new ways of doing

innovations I think of new ways of doing things

things

things and I picked up one old age way of doing

and I picked up one old age way of doing

and I picked up one old age way of doing things

things

things storytelling and I told my story I told

storytelling and I told my story I told

storytelling and I told my story I told it on my blog even if just to myself

it on my blog even if just to myself

it on my blog even if just to myself because no one else ever told the story

because no one else ever told the story

because no one else ever told the story I had never read about anyone’s repo

I had never read about anyone’s repo

I had never read about anyone’s repo deal I had never read about living with

deal I had never read about living with

deal I had never read about living with epilepsy or bipolar and so I told my

epilepsy or bipolar and so I told my

epilepsy or bipolar and so I told my story and then why told it’s the most

story and then why told it’s the most

story and then why told it’s the most demo people told me their stories and my

demo people told me their stories and my

demo people told me their stories and my told it the more I got closer to opening

told it the more I got closer to opening

told it the more I got closer to opening up this composition then Google came

up this composition then Google came

up this composition then Google came along and they had this competition to

along and they had this competition to

along and they had this competition to see how Africans by using their products

see how Africans by using their products

see how Africans by using their products and they picked my blog as one of the

and they picked my blog as one of the

and they picked my blog as one of the win

win

win the Google Africa competition because I

the Google Africa competition because I

the Google Africa competition because I told stories no one wanted to talk about

told stories no one wanted to talk about

told stories no one wanted to talk about and I used the money to start to set up

and I used the money to start to set up

and I used the money to start to set up a platform where other people in this

a platform where other people in this

a platform where other people in this country can tell those stories that they

country can tell those stories that they

country can tell those stories that they have fraid to tell anyone about and

have fraid to tell anyone about and

have fraid to tell anyone about and within our first year we had 11,000

within our first year we had 11,000

within our first year we had 11,000 people who’d written in and who we had

people who’d written in and who we had

people who’d written in and who we had connected to psychiatrist and counselors

connected to psychiatrist and counselors

connected to psychiatrist and counselors and support groups and I kept telling my

and support groups and I kept telling my

and support groups and I kept telling my stories and I found myself sitting at

stories and I found myself sitting at

stories and I found myself sitting at the national mental health policy review

the national mental health policy review

the national mental health policy review board speaking on behalf of people like

board speaking on behalf of people like

board speaking on behalf of people like myself who had no one to tell their

myself who had no one to tell their

myself who had no one to tell their stories to and last year were able to

stories to and last year were able to

stories to and last year were able to launch the first version of Kenya’s

launch the first version of Kenya’s

launch the first version of Kenya’s mental health policy and I kept telling

mental health policy and I kept telling

mental health policy and I kept telling my story in wax pieces and schools

my story in wax pieces and schools

my story in wax pieces and schools places that I wish someone had told

places that I wish someone had told

places that I wish someone had told their story so that I had a story to

their story so that I had a story to

their story so that I had a story to lean on too so when I think of New

lean on too so when I think of New

lean on too so when I think of New Horizons in Africa I think of people who

Horizons in Africa I think of people who

Horizons in Africa I think of people who decide to be coffee beans to change the

decide to be coffee beans to change the

decide to be coffee beans to change the color of the water where they are with

color of the water where they are with

color of the water where they are with whatever they have

whatever they have