They call them Ebed: which means 'the mad one'. Though they are not mad nor do they look mad the society I proudly say I am a part of calls those who are mentally ill, 'the mad people'. Hmmm. . . It makes you wonder about Ethiopia, about its background and hospitality for people, the love for their neighbors and the people of religion and tradition, it makes you wonder as to why it is that the most vulnerable are hated, disgusted about and why most live in ignorance of the current reality? That at least 1 person is "Ebed" from one line of a family. But since no one is willing to show the dark, weak side of the family, it is usually tugged under the carpet, well under the ground would make more sense in this situation.
So who are the crazy people? Who are the coo-coo ones? The one who seriously have mental health problems or those who choose to pretend that there are no such things in Ethiopia yet it is just the devil?
On the street of Addis, you see many people that are affected by mental health problems. Most that seems to be suffering from depression, bipolar and schizophrenia. Some say that these individuals are dirty and crazy so they run away from them or look at them as if they chose to be ill. And some give the reason of why they are ill or 'ebed'. "I bet they took drugs" "I bet it is all that Khat they chew" and some would say; its karma or the devil that just got them. "Holy water is the medicine"
I surprisingly ask, "Holy water for depression?" "If you doubt like this, you are next, in fact I wonder about you right now" I laugh being so amazed and just so surprises, shocked, and just stunned, I don’t know whether to blame the individual, the culture, the religion or to blame those of us so called ‘educated’ chasing the dollar!.
I have not found a family in Ethiopia that has come into terms about their loved ones being mental ill and what that person needs is mental health specialist that can help him/her. What usually happens (what I saw) is a person in the family might be really ill. The first option is Holy water, then when that doesn't work, it is 'tenkway' (the psychic/fortune teller : more on this later) (if the family is into these things) they say "I will do anything for my child/brother or sister” (their justification), then when that doesn’t work it is the last resort, mental health hospital. Since the family denied it so much and didn't accept it as being an illness like any other kind the patient usually feels like he/she betrayed the family, put the family to shame, or feels like the black sheep. The patient takes the meds and gets better but the families constant sucking the lips and talking about this devil that has gotten in the house and how a priest should come and sprinkle holy water comments gets to the patient which makes the patient not accept the illness and slowly stop taking the medication. So when I ask when is it that the patient can ever accept their illness and lead a productive life? Is it A. When they move away from the family they need on their side incase of an episode? B. Is it when they can't hear what the family saying C. When they try to avoid the family by staying out, and staying out late? D. When they attempt or commit suicide? E. All of the above : You answer that question!
Mental health in Ethiopia is a serious issue. As Khat is legal, produced locally and distributed more than any other food item through out Ethiopia it is also to some degree the great contributor to mental illness: specifically schizophrenia. It heightens any mental illness the person had, therefore though it is not the cause; but it does exaggerate the illness to some degree.
Read1: http://www.delken.ec.europa.eu/en/publications/war%20trauma%20khat%20and%20psychosis%20vivo%20report.pdf
Read2:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC554104/
How bad is mental health issue in Ethiopia?
Read1: http://www.who.int/countries/eth/areas/mentalhealth/en/index.html
Read2: http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/ethiopia_who_aims_report.pdf (trust me it is still the same)
New Development:
http://www.salini.it/index.php/english/content/show_news/40
(FYI: Population 83 Million, Hospitals 2: Each serving only 200 individuals at a time)
Poverty can make anyone depressed!
In Ethiopia people are neither taught nor encouraged to speak out their problems to solve them. It is usually kept as secrets, they call it “Gebena”. There are many individuals, mentally ill that have been hidden underground for years, and those away from family, there are those who are looked at as devils, shame and hated by their own mothers. When this is topped off on their already serious poverty and survival problems, people tend to loose their minds. (anyone would)
Let’s do something about raising awareness on this issue in Ethiopia. If we can't do it ourselves, let’s tell a friend, someone, anyone who can do something about it. Let’s not just sit and watch the most vulnerable being tortured by their own families ‘because they just didn’t know’
So who are the crazy people? Who are the coo-coo ones? The one who seriously have mental health problems or those who choose to pretend that there are no such things in Ethiopia yet it is just the devil?
On the street of Addis, you see many people that are affected by mental health problems. Most that seems to be suffering from depression, bipolar and schizophrenia. Some say that these individuals are dirty and crazy so they run away from them or look at them as if they chose to be ill. And some give the reason of why they are ill or 'ebed'. "I bet they took drugs" "I bet it is all that Khat they chew" and some would say; its karma or the devil that just got them. "Holy water is the medicine"
I surprisingly ask, "Holy water for depression?" "If you doubt like this, you are next, in fact I wonder about you right now" I laugh being so amazed and just so surprises, shocked, and just stunned, I don’t know whether to blame the individual, the culture, the religion or to blame those of us so called ‘educated’ chasing the dollar!.
I have not found a family in Ethiopia that has come into terms about their loved ones being mental ill and what that person needs is mental health specialist that can help him/her. What usually happens (what I saw) is a person in the family might be really ill. The first option is Holy water, then when that doesn't work, it is 'tenkway' (the psychic/fortune teller : more on this later) (if the family is into these things) they say "I will do anything for my child/brother or sister” (their justification), then when that doesn’t work it is the last resort, mental health hospital. Since the family denied it so much and didn't accept it as being an illness like any other kind the patient usually feels like he/she betrayed the family, put the family to shame, or feels like the black sheep. The patient takes the meds and gets better but the families constant sucking the lips and talking about this devil that has gotten in the house and how a priest should come and sprinkle holy water comments gets to the patient which makes the patient not accept the illness and slowly stop taking the medication. So when I ask when is it that the patient can ever accept their illness and lead a productive life? Is it A. When they move away from the family they need on their side incase of an episode? B. Is it when they can't hear what the family saying C. When they try to avoid the family by staying out, and staying out late? D. When they attempt or commit suicide? E. All of the above : You answer that question!
Mental health in Ethiopia is a serious issue. As Khat is legal, produced locally and distributed more than any other food item through out Ethiopia it is also to some degree the great contributor to mental illness: specifically schizophrenia. It heightens any mental illness the person had, therefore though it is not the cause; but it does exaggerate the illness to some degree.
Read1: http://www.delken.ec.europa.eu/en/publications/war%20trauma%20khat%20and%20psychosis%20vivo%20report.pdf
Read2:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC554104/
How bad is mental health issue in Ethiopia?
Read1: http://www.who.int/countries/eth/areas/mentalhealth/en/index.html
Read2: http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/ethiopia_who_aims_report.pdf (trust me it is still the same)
New Development:
http://www.salini.it/index.php/english/content/show_news/40
(FYI: Population 83 Million, Hospitals 2: Each serving only 200 individuals at a time)
Poverty can make anyone depressed!
In Ethiopia people are neither taught nor encouraged to speak out their problems to solve them. It is usually kept as secrets, they call it “Gebena”. There are many individuals, mentally ill that have been hidden underground for years, and those away from family, there are those who are looked at as devils, shame and hated by their own mothers. When this is topped off on their already serious poverty and survival problems, people tend to loose their minds. (anyone would)
Let’s do something about raising awareness on this issue in Ethiopia. If we can't do it ourselves, let’s tell a friend, someone, anyone who can do something about it. Let’s not just sit and watch the most vulnerable being tortured by their own families ‘because they just didn’t know’
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