10th October was World Mental Health Day. And like any other day for most advocates of mental health, I spent my day talking about the need for destigmatisation of mental health illnesses and why we must become so #unashamed2020 that crude and unkind remarks from ignorant or mean folks about mental illnesses have zero impact on our mental health.

My name is Petra Akinti Onyegbule. In the last 6 years, I have been very open about my battle with depression. This was not always the case because like we do with many things we do not understand, mental disorders had so extensively stigmatized to the point where folks like me dealt with their issues in silence and sadly taking their own lives when they could no longer cope. For the longest of time I was too ashamed to say I suffered bad episodes of depression because I didn’t want to be seen as possessed or mad.

But as time went on, I took control from people’s perception of my reality and became #unashamed enough to talk about it and create meaningful conversations and engagements around mental health thereby empowering myself and others to become advocates for optimal mental health.

I have not just spoken about it to raise awareness that depression and other mental disorders such as anxiety, schizophrenia, psychosis are not religious afflictions but health issues which must be dealt with by health experts, I have had therapy sessions to understand myself, what triggers my depression, how to avoid them and I have had to use medication sometimes as prescribed by my shrink.

It has not been an easy journey and I am the first to admit that. And relief has not happened overnight. It was a gradual process. My episodes have become far between and less intense. And I’m living my life as best as I can with reduced interference from the effect of depression.

Apart from therapy and medications (which I haven’t needed in over two years), here are practical things I do to help myself:
- I recognize the triggers and extricate myself from situations or emotions which trigger them;
- Filter news and information which predispose me to feelings that inevitably depress me;
- Make every environment I spend a lot of time in favorable for my mental health. And by this I mean physical environment. I make where I spend most of my time in a haven, a place of peace;
- Stay away from negative energy;
- Do my best to not feel like an underachiever. I measure my achievements by the fulfillment I get and not by general standards;
- Be around only those whose aura and spirit don’t depress me;
- Share when I’m overwhelmed, even to the point of whining. Bottling up is dangerous.
- Build a strong social support system.

My name is Petra Akinti Onyegbule and I affirm that mental disorders can be treated if only we become #Unashamed enough to seek help.