Is the Land of the Brave brave enough to talk about mental health?
Just a few days ago, the headlines were shocking: Namibia leads Africa in suicides.The death of the great musician Ras Sheehama epitomises the pandemic of depression and suicide that Namibia is grappling with. As someone who has spoken and written about my own mental health challenges, it pains me to read of the several suicides the country averages each week. These sorrowful statistics need to be drastically reduced.
However, it is not that simple. Depression and suicidal thoughts are not easy to spot, not even by professionals. We often hear the phrase after someone has committed suicide, “They didn’t seem suicidal.”
That is precisely the challenge: mental health difficulties are rarely visible.
When we think of disability, our minds often jump to what is visible — a wheelchair, a cane, a prosthetic limb. These are clear signs that someone may need understanding, accommodation, or support, and we hopefully act accordingly. Mental health challenges, however, do not manifest so clearly. Depression is, for many people, a profound example of an invisible disability. It can be just as limiting as any other disability, yet it often goes unrecognised and untreated.
A medical condition
I often have to explain that depression is not simply “feeling sad.” It is a medical condition that impairs concentration, decision-making, energy levels, and the ability to interact with the world, which can become too much of a challenge. Yet from the outside, there may be no visible sign of this struggle. A person might appear “fine,” smiling in public, meeting deadlines, and making small talk. However, simultaneously, they may be battling exhaustion, hopelessness, and a constant mental fog.
This invisibility leads colleagues, friends, and even family members to underestimate the severity of the condition or dismiss it entirely. One of the greatest challenges for people living with depression is the societal expectation to “snap out of it” or “just be positive.” These phrases, however well-intentioned, reveal a fundamental misunderstanding: depression is not a choice; it cannot be waved away like magic.
Depression is the result of a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Like any physical ailment or disability, it requires appropriate treatment, support, and understanding.
Need for recognition
When depression is not recognised as a legitimate disability, individuals may be denied the workplace flexibility, academic adjustments, or social understanding they need to function. We must do better as employers, as a nation, and at every stage in life to remove the terrible stigma surrounding depression and mental health issues. This lack of recognition can deepen feelings of isolation and shame, making recovery even more difficult.
Recognising depression as a valid yet invisible disability is not about labelling people. It means fostering a culture where people feel safe to disclose their struggles without fear of being judged as weak or unreliable. It is the only way we can begin to stop the pandemic of suicides in the Land of the Brave.
The more we talk openly about depression, the more we chip away at the stigma that keeps it hidden. Just as ramps and elevators make physical spaces accessible, open dialogue and mental health literacy make emotional spaces safer.
Are we brave enough as a nation to do this?