The World Bank reports that 22% of Nigerians–that’s a staggering 41.8 million citizens–suffer from depression. Depression and mental health in Nigeria and Africa is a topic that must be looked at from different paradigms.
Over the last decade, many continental-based, as well as international quests and initiatives, have sprouted to salvage Africans from the looming cloaks of mental illness and depression. While a few successes have been recorded, depression is still very much at large and claiming more lives as the days go by.
Two friends, Fortune Bekee and Kuro Briggs have become the newest members of the “War Against Depression (W.A.D.)” clan. In 2019, the duo launched Truthshare, an online platform that’s leveraging the power of storytelling and technology to drive depression away as far as possible, and limit its ripple effects on the minds and lives of young Africans.
The longtime friends and co-CEOs’ zeal spurred from a recurring epidemic across Nigeria, depression-fueled suicides. During a sit-down, they narrowed the dilemma to an age long culture where people are taught to be rather “quiet” than speak-up, with very few minds open to understanding and a society that easily misconstrues intentions, and often gifting stigma to those bold enough to come forward. Nevertheless, something ‘more’ has to be done.
Championing a course as “daring” as this seemed like a dare in itself. But, it’s a matter of lives and repercussions that reverberates across the vortex of times, a disease that’s slowly ridding a promising continent of its promises. It’s a dare worth accepting.
“My co-founder and I have always tried to take on big risks. To do what no one has done before. To make a difference during our time on earth. We have embarked on a series of other projects that have helped us understand our strengths and weaknesses, but not a humanitarian one as huge as this one. We were touched by the increasing number of suicides being committed recently. And while discussing, we thought some of these deaths could have been stopped if the victims probably talked about it with someone, anyone, who’d be open enough to understand their plights and accepting them. We decided to come up with this solution which is already making an impact,” Fortune says.
Over time, the writing therapy (administered by therapists) posits that writing one’s feelings gradually eases feelings of emotional trauma. The University of Rochester informs that “simply writing down your thoughts and feelings helps to understand them more clearly. And if you struggle with stress, depression, or anxiety, keeping a journal is a great idea. “
Be that as it may, telling stories isn’t enough to curb an emotional menace that could sink a soul into a mental upheaval in no time. The team recognises this fact and adopts a three-fold approach to Truthshare–a free online writing tool to help users relieve themselves of any emotional distress, counsellors matched with depressed users, and offline seminars that double as therapeutic and psychological sessions– all designed to offer a long-lasting solution.
But there’s still the challenge of encouraging people to ‘speak up’. Bearing the societal consciousness in mind, Truthshare protects the identity of users with its anonymous feature.
“A greater idea is even having users who have passed through similar scenarios or experienced counsellors respond to what other users have written. Not so many people in this region are aware of this great idea. And we are here to educate them.”
Prior to launch, the founders had believed their solution will help a great number of people eschew depression, but they didn’t perhaps understand that the audience Truthshare will cater to is more than ripe for harvest and eagerly awaiting their solution. Because, only 3 weeks into the launch of the online platform, 60 anonymous users had posted their stories, garnering over 100 responses, Fortune shared.
In the read stories section, we can see all the stories and responses to these stories. All these have been achieved with little or no online awareness. The more people we reach the more we will be able to touch more lives. Already, we have touching stories of people we have counselled and talked to and they are really happy.
Building a platform where people share their stories, get help and be happy is a strong motivation for Bekee and Briggs. But their solution doesn’t just stop at sharing stories–because, as it’s said, “a problem shared is only half solved”. And Truthshare doesn’t exist to solve part problems. This is why licensed counsellors enlisted on the platform are often matched with chronic depression victims based on users’ request. There’s also the peer-to-peer engagement where folks undergoing similar plights could anonymously engage and offer related counsel.
The goal, as Fortune puts it, is to first ensure that the average Nigerian gets better mental health and citizens feeling depressed having a chance to talk to someone, without being stigmatised. And then, there are the larger-scale social and environmental depression-borne problems to contend with.
Globally, depression is the second-leading cause of disability, with slightly more than 4% of the world’s population diagnosed with it. World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) has identified Africa to have countries with the highest rates of depression.
The Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria says about 20 to 30 percent of Nigerians suffer from mental illness. And it has led to some of them committing suicide. We can trace the causes of depression for an average Nigerian to a million issues, but in a situation where Nigeria, the hallmark of the African continent ranks 10th in Africa and 67th in the world in terms of suicide rate, there’s an urgency that cannot be overlooked.
More often than not, depression deteriorates into mental illness, and the worst of it, victims go suicidal. What then happens, if a continent expected to lead the wave of young energetic demographic in a few years has its younger generations already trapped by the fangs of depression?
Perhaps we’re being too futuristic to sense that it’s already robbing us of our chances right now. For instance, one of the leading causes of depression sprout in Nigeria is the country’s unemployment problems which have gone on for longer than one could keep track.
Truthshare might not have positioned itself as an employment platform–although many of those exist in Nigeria already, with millions of able applicants jostling for limited slots–the team believes an online platform that alleviates mind troubles is a big step to healing, and then, a strong foundation to building.
The theory is, when the mind is stable, you become able to transit from a job-seeker to a problem-solver and easily recognise opportunities. Isn’t this what entrepreneurship is all about?
“African governments have recognised entrepreneurship as a lasting solution to tackling unemployment, as they see that they cannot provide all the jobs required. So we need our young minds intact, so we can think clearly of solutions that’d bring our continent to the heights we so desire. Depression and mental illness rub us of this chance. But depression is only an illusion that we can curb”
The solution, Truthshare, is supposed to channel a lost cause to a refined purpose in this manner; a depressed mind anonymously expresses thoughts and dissatisfaction on the platform, a response is given without an iota of stigmatisation, advice from professional minds and counsellors follow suit, physical gatherings to further strengthen victims and avoid relapse are scheduled, healing begins, and the mind becomes clear and stable to think solutions to Africa’s pressing problems.
The resultant effects; entrepreneurship is born; unemployment solved, depression gone, suicide uncontemplated, another African life saved, and mental illness chased.
Also, the online platform is looking to solve the alarming unemployment issue in Nigeria by providing jobs in counselling sessions, especially for graduates in psychology who’d love to practise their profession.
Truthshare is piloting its cause in Nigeria, giving the growing stats of the said problem across the country– 20 – 30% of Nigerians suffer from mental illness. The team believes it’s the perfect place to begin and cause so much impact in the shortest possible time.
Beyond lives that are being touched by Truthshare, the team has had quite a number of feats since inception. For instance, in November 2019, Truthshare won a grant from the Make In Nigeria pitch competition.
In a few years time, the team hopes the initiative will touch 10,000 (ten thousand) lives monthly while providing jobs for all counsellors who’d will be part of impacting these lives.
Across times and seasons, the saying “the pen is mightier than the sword” has mostly been connoted for writing in order to forge peace and it holds true in many situations. But this time around, Truthshare is bringing a new definition to this lifelong saying by championing a course to suppress depression in the simplest possible way–writing to live.
Use our free anonymous writing tool to clear off whatever is on your mind. We have trained counselors that will respond to you as well as other users like you who have experienced similar depression or situation.
Trained Counselors or Students studying counselling are welcome to register with us to proffer solution to patients who are depressed and need some form of counselling
Whether you are looking for individual, couple, or family counseling, we have qualified therapists who can meet your needs. Sign up today to schedule your first appointment and get started with therapy.
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