Written by Brenda Onyango, edited by Erick Ojwang. Mental health is the state of well-being in which an individual leverages his or her abilities, copes with the normal stresses of life, works productively, and promotes a positive contribution to his or her community (WHO, 2018). Consequently, the significance of the...

Self-stigma is an internalized stigma that eats away at our self-esteem, self-efficacy and self-concept. Feelings of shame and guilt often come with self-stigma, when we are led to believe that we have broken some unwritten code about what it means to be a full member of society (Mental Health Foundation...

Experiencing periodic anxiety is a normal part of everyday life. It is our body’s natural response to stress, and it also alerts us of potential danger. It is purely natural to feel anxious when going to a job interview, giving a speech, before taking a test, when faced with a...

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes unusual and extreme changes in an individual’s moods. Like any other mental health condition, it is characterized by symptoms that interfere with one’s ability to carry out day-to-day activities. The individual experiences intense mood episodes of emotional highs known as manic...

Depression is a relatively common and widespread mental disorder. It is estimated to affect around 3.8% (approximately 299 million people) of the global population with 5% of all adults and 5.7% of individuals above 60 years suffering from the condition (WHO, 2021). Depression is defined as a mood disorder characterized...