Are We Brave Enough To Talk About Mental Health in the Land of the Brave?

A few days ago, headlines in the media were shocking: Namibia leads in Africa when it comes to suicides.

The untimely death of the great musician Ras Sheehama epitomises the pandemic of depression and suicide that Namibia is dealing with.

As someone who has talked and written about my mental health challenges, it pains me to read that Namibia averages several suicides a week.

This needs to be drastically reduced. However, it is not that easy.

Depression and suicidal thoughts are not easy to spot. Not even by professionals.

After someone has committed suicide, we often hear “but they didn’t seem suicidal”. That is precisely the point: mental health challenges 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 visible signs that someone may need understanding, accommodation, or support, and we hopefully act accordingly.

BEYOND ‘SAD’

Depression is a profound example of an invisible disability and can be just as limiting as any other disability.

I often have to explain that depression is not simply “feeling sad”.

It is a medical condition that impairs concentration, decision-making and energy levels. Interacting with the world can be too much of a challenge.

A person might appear “fine”, smiling in public, meeting deadlines, and making small talk. However, at the same time they are battling exhaustion, hopelessness, and a constant mental fog.

This invisibility leads to people, even family members, underestimating the severity of the condition or dismissing it.

A significant challenge 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.

One of the reasons we struggle with keeping mental health on an even keel is that it is a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

It requires appropriate treatment, support and understanding.

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.

IT’S UP TO US

We must do better as employers, as a nation, and at every stage in life, to remove the stigma surrounding depression and mental health issues.

This lack of recognition can deepen feelings of isolation and shame, making recovery more complicated.

Recognising depression as a valid 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 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?

– John Steytler, founding member and managing director of R&J Steytler.

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