I was on my way to the Korean Cultural Centre to attend a programme in honour of World Poetry Day when I decided to make a stop at a road side ATM gallery to withdraw some money. This guy came close to me and began to mumble meaningless things so I ignored him.
Then all of a sudden he began to shout at the top of his voice, cursing me out and thre€atening me: "I bind your spirit in Jesus name! I bind and cast you in Jesus name! You will remain like this in Jesus name!!" He said all this and more while prancing up and down.
Reasons I stopped believing in marriage
I was startled but refused to engage him. I just wanted to finish and leave. Everyone was just staring as though the guy and I had an unfinished business from before because he was not looking dishevelled or anything.
I was a bit scared because he could have att@cked me and even harmed me. What this incidence reminded me of was my final year in pharmacy school where as part of my project, my supervisor wanted me to interview some psychiatric patients institutionalized at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria.
I was really scared then because Nigerians do not take their mentally challenged patients to the hospital until they are completely out of hand. A lot still needs to be done in terms of mental awareness in Nigeria. Until someone begins to roam the streets n@ked, att@cking people or being totally out of their mind, we do not take them seriously.
"Ohhh you're depressed? What do you have to be depressed about? Cheer up jare. Life is not fair to any body."
"Read your bible and pray."
"Which one is bipolar again? Who doesn't have mood swings?"
"You're hearing voices? Come let's go for deliverance."
Man's Inhumanity To Man on The Increase Everyday
See, mental illness has a broad spectrum and is as real as cancer, malaria, diabetes, typhoid, HI!V etc. If you know enough to see your doctor over the others, why the utter disregard for psychiatric conditions??
Note:
Having a mental disorder is not the end of the world. If you're feeling out of sorts, see a professional. You might be surprised at all the help waiting for you.
Let's join hands together to spread mental health awareness. Stop stigmatising people with mental health issues. It's not funny at all!
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