Who ?
I grew up in a broken home. Parents had a rough divorce when I was ten and for the next 4/5 yrs stayed with my dad and stepmother. A time I felt neglected and left to fend for myself, this did a number on my self esteem and confidence I became a very timid boy which made me vulnerable to bullying by peers.
Things have gotten better now but since then I've been nursing wounds inflicted by such upbringing, though not visible to the eye but the depressive episodes, the indecisiveness and sometimes dissociative states attest to the damage.
I committed myself to becoming better and it drove me to major in BSC Honors Psychology at university a qualification I am using to be there for children and young people like myself who are in need of mental health support but don't know where to look.
I aspire to see children's mental health needs addressed for they're the foundation of a strong community, hence I'm claiming a space on their playground (internet) to dedicate it to the promotion of mental wellbeing and mental health education.
I was born Desmond Takudzwa Chimanga but I go by "Des The Zim Mental Health Guy".
What?
I made a quote saying, "your passions determine your purpose, so be purposeful about your passions".
Given that, I find my purpose in mental health work be it offering counseling, educating and/or raising awareness. Mental health work is that thing I'm willing to go fast and far for even when no one is coming with me, because I know from lived experience what it means to be broken and how much difference having just one person in your corner to help with the healing journey can make.
We live in a world where everything else lives a mark of it's existence, well I want to be remembered for choosing to steward the greatest gift to mankind which is our "minds".
How?
A farmer need hoes, a soldier need guns. This is to say without the necessary tools and equipment no matter the zeal and drive a laborer might have not much work can be done. It is like so in the mental health field, knowledge and information is our ammunition and in an ever evolving world one can never get enough it, hence the need for us with access to information and knowledge to share it with everyone in whatever way possible. I like writing, therefore I will write about mental health until my hands go numb.
Through sharing my lived experiences and what I see around me I really hope to resonate and relate with the African community on the perception of mental health from our collective point of view, challenging the stigma and initiating open respectful conversations on Mental Health.
Why?
The real question should be why not? Our minds work 24/7 for us without rest, and if someone doesn't take the responsibility to remind us to take good care of this precious gift the effects will be catastrophic and threatening to the survival of our kind. I want to see us lead fulfilling lives, where each and everyone realize their full potential and is able to cope with whatever things life throws in their way. I struggled with mental health problems and found help, so can you.
In conclusion,
There is no shame in feeling low, getting overwhelmed by problems means you are human and the good thing about being human is we are social beings and strive best when connected to one another, so help me create a big platform for promoting mental health in the African space by sharing the link to this page, follow and like this post. Feel free to share your contact with me if in need of mental health support.