The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a surge in mental health problems globally. In this article, Dr Maureen Waithaka examines the impact of the pandemic on mental health in Kenya, particularly among the medical fraternity.

What is it like going through child sex abuse that leads to a slew of mental health issues that push you over the edge when you grow up in a culture and environment that labels mental health as taboo and conveniently sweeps it under the rug?

This article is about my experience with depression—putting it into words, describing it so that it’s more tangible and becomes much more real to someone who doesn’t know what it feels like. It’s to articulate in the best way I can how depression has affected me and how, personally, I view and experience it. This article also includes my experience with suicidal ideation as well as a close encounter with an attempt at suicide.