MENTAL ILLNESS :A PRESENCE SINCE AGES PAST.

The 'jump over a bridge" incident appears to have awakened us all to the realities of mental illness. The truth is that mental conditions have always been with us, since ages past. Maybe we do not hear much about it because we do not really know what it is. And we hardly recognize it unless it appears haggard or naked in the street or well, a successful attempt at jumping across a bridge.

Long before it gets to these points, there must have been many manfeststions, but sadly, as it progresses from subtle to pronounced conditions, people around do not recognize it as a disorder.

Everyone says the man that jumped across the bridge was depressed, maybe he was and maybe he had some other condition. Some say he could have shared his problems with someone, that a problem shared is a problem half-solved. It is not really about sharing problems with just anyone. The person you turn to may not even know better. Most advice people receive from friends may be faulty as well, and could even consolidate the situation.

I would rephrase the quote - a problem shared with a professional is a problem solved.

Igbo people say "ihere adighi eme onye ara, o umunne ya ka ihere na eme", meaning "a mad man does not feel ashamed, rather it's his brothers that feel the shame". It is even more than shame. Mental illness has one unfortunate characteristic and that is that it goes largely unnoticed by the sufferer. It is usually people around that notice changes in behavior. So it is not about a person choosing to discuss their problems, they may not even know they have a problem. It is actually be more about everyone being conscious of each other and raising an alarm when (marked) changes in behavior begin to emerge.

Mental illness usually does not kill, if it were so, all the 'mad people' we see on the street would have been dead, but it leaves the person in a miserable condition. Mental illness grossly affects the quality of ones life and displaces people from their potential. It affects the quality of their interaction with people and leaves them estranged with almost everyone around them. Bit by bit, it colors the entirety of a person's life and leaves the person unable to function(as before). Making it difficult to find or keep a job, hold or pursue a aspirations, focus on studies, relate with people, etc.

Mental illness comes in different colorations, it is not always all sad and gloomy. Sometimes it comes in form of happiness that cannot be contained. It does not always come in a haggard dirty looking form, sometimes it could appear prim and proper. It can make one forget details of things they should know, and someother times, it makes one narrate things no one else around appears to know.

There are infirmities of the body, so also is it for the mind and that is what mental illness is. It is neither a curse or a punishment. It affects the rich and the poor alike, men and women, and people of all races and culture. We have mental conditions that affect children, some are more common in adults and some others manifest at old age.

Do not hesitate to seek help if you notice someone around you becoming a shell of him/herself, or becoming someone else entirely. Visit a hospital. Treatments are available and your loved one can have his or her life back.

It appears we have higher incidence of suicide these days. Maybe reports of suicide gain publicity or maybe the pervalence has increased. Let's keep in mind that of any one successful suicidal attempt, few others were unsuccessful and the individuals usually try again, unless they are caught and placed on close watch. I pray we do not forget the realities of mental illness after the news of last weekend 's incident fizzles away.