Managing mental illness

Ministry of Health Mental Health Director Dr Simon Njuguna during an interview in Nairobi on managing mental health crisis in the country. (PHOTO: DAVID NJAAGA/ STANDARD)

Six years ago, Annie Wanjiru was diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia (a chronic and severe mental disorder). This was after a failed suicide attempt.

“All my life I had felt that something was not right - I struggled with shyness and lack of interest although I was a bright student. When I went to university, I could hardly read, I felt mixed up and confused. I even went to see a psychiatrist, and he diagnosed excessive thinking and gave me some tablets which seemed to make the situation worse.”