By Isaac Biosse
Picture this.
You’re out with your friends at your regular chill spot. On this particular day, you went early because you needed to get some work done. You thought you’d be the first one there, only to find almost everyone already seated, enjoying time with the community. Granted, some of them were curating a show that day, so they had to be there early. But then there’s K—who, on a normal Tuesday, would be in the office.
Anyway, you finish your work early and join the rest as you all wait for the evening show. K is his usual self—full of life. He’s making terrible dad jokes, giving people random hugs, and sipping his favourite tequila. Typical K.
After the show, you finally decide to head home early because you’re exhausted, and you still have work the next morning.
The next day comes, and life goes on the usual cycle. You then remember that you had promised K you’d link up again later that evening for a music show, but you weren’t able to make it, and you didn’t even communicate with him.
Then Thursday comes. You go about your day’s business until around 3 p.m., when the most dreaded phone call comes in. The person on the other end is sobbing. You try to find out what’s wrong. And then they break the news:
“K is no more. He left us yesterday.” A vibrant student who was chasing after his PhD, A stellar pianist and musician, ‘’No more?” I was heartbroken
Suddenly, the world comes to a standstill. No more? Left yesterday? I mean, on Tuesday he was just fine, according to how you’ve known him. So what could have triggered him between us going our separate ways on Tuesday night and the morning of Wednesday? So many questions.
Just like that, a young soul, full of dreams, ambition, and love for others, is gone. What wasn’t visible, though, was the pain. The sleepless nights. Many times he almost gave up hope. But this time, the monster had won. This happened to someone in my circle.
You see, the concept of mental health may feel foreign to many, but it lives among us daily.
According to the 2022 Kenya National Adolescent Mental Health Survey (K-NAMHS):
● Approximately 10% of adolescents experience anxiety, and 7% experience depression.
● Another report shows that 46% of students aged 12–17 are struggling with depression, while 38% are dealing with anxiety.
● 80% of young people who struggle with suicidal ideation have an underlying mental health condition.
● Around 311 youths die by suicide in Kenya every year—a number likely higher due to underreporting.
There are many causes of mental health conditions: biological, environmental, psychological, digital influences, and even substance use.
Mental health is a real struggle. We can’t ignore it. We can’t run away from it. And no one is immune.
The best we can do is be aware, create safe spaces for our peers, and treat therapy as a lifestyle practice, not just a response to crisis.
And as many say, “It’s okay not to be okay.”