NOSTIGMAS ALLY BLOG
Documenting the lives of the NoStigmas community through stories, creative works & advocacy related to mental illness and suicide.
The peer support program I started with went well and has been taken over by our ministry of health through our national referral hospital Butabika hospital to be rolled out across the whole country. I have now concentrated on raising mental health awareness to combat stigma which I think is very, very important.
Gratitude is a common theme in many of the books that I read, probably because it is the backbone to good mental health. If there is one good habit above all that we should practice each and every day, it is being thankful. This can be extremely hard when our mental health is not in the best of places, but hard work is essential in overcoming adversities. Several research studies have shown that practicing gratitude can considerably reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
My first suicide attempt was when I was nine years old. I have spent my entire life dropping into the depths of darkness, wanting nothing more than to be dead. But depression and bipolar disorder were taboo subjects. If I had cancer, I would have sympathy, flowers, fundraisers, and hugs. My disorder is secret, unmentionable, and invisible.
Anyone can have mental health challenges in their lifetime, and it can be very difficult. However it WILL get easier if you get help. Letting people know you are there to listen, can make a big difference
Telling success stories around all disabilities or mental illness is the best key to reducing stigma and discrimination.
