by Kolee Gboyo, Mental Health Clinician, Maryland County

Depression, which can be defined as sadness or low mood characterized by poor sleep, poor appetite, headache, social isolation and sometimes suicidal thoughts or ideation, is considered a serious disabling condition seen among rural community dwellers in south-eastern Liberia (Maryland County). It can be graded from mild to moderate and severe. However, in my experience as a mental health clinician working with rural community dwellers in both facility and community mental health programs, I have noticed that most community dwellers with depression do not even know that they are mentally ill. They seek treatment in prayer yards with the presumption that their conditions are the result of witchcraft. Many prayer yard managers express disappointment especially when the person with depression does not adhere to prayers management. Sometimes, prayers yards are also successful in managing depression cases, owing to the fact that drugs are the last option, but talk therapy works well both at facility and community levels, depending on the severity.

It has also been discovered that more women come down with depression than men. This is attributed to the role of women for the upkeep of their homes in terms of provision of food, care for their children and their husbands as well. Polygamy is also highly practiced in this part of Liberia, where a man gets to marry two or more wives without treating all equally.

This year Liberia will mark World Health Day with a solid programme which includes service messages, SMS, training of religious and traditional healers and many other activities. Although several mental health community support group activities have been carried out by health partners in several communities to create awareness and improve the knowledge of community dwellers about depression as an illness, monthly mental health data collection from health facilities across the county (Maryland) still constitute of up to 15% depression cases. Over five cases of suicide deaths have been reported during the period under review (March 2016 – March 2017). Depression is one of the silent killers, yet it is seemingly unnoticed by community dwellers and some health authorities.

911 is the national emergency number in Liberia

Lifeline Liberia: 6534308