- Inspired by overwhelming response to sharing his own struggles with depression
- Started struggling with depression in 2013 after the tragic loss of his mother to cancer
- To help others going through similar situations
Gospel singer Exodus has started an initiative to address mental health stigma.
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The Prophecy singer says he is inspired by the overwhelming response he received after sharing his own struggles with depression recently.
In March this year, Exodus shocked fans when he revealed that he has been struggling with depression since 2013. He stated that the condition was triggered by the tragic loss of his mother to stage four cancer, something that shattered his world.
"My struggles began in 2013 when I lost my dear mom. At that time, we discovered she had stage four cancer. When she passed away, I lost my job, my house, and my cars,” he said.
As depression hit, Exodus took a break from music but found solace in alcohol and drugs that almost cost his life.
Exodus says he is now inspired to help other people who are going through situations that he is familiar with.
“I’m on a campaign to create awareness so the public can get to learn what mental health is or issues that deal and concern with thoughts,” he said before adding.
“When I went through this challenge about 7 years ago and narrated my story two months back, we got about 5000 comments from different individuals thanking us for opening up about the dangers of mental health.”
He noted that many people are going through the same challenge but fear to open up.
“That implied to me that so many people are going through the same challenge but fear opening up based on how the public will judge them, especially those in the creative arts. The mental health issue is a global pandemic that we have not embraced yet,” he added.
Mental health in Uganda
According to Makerere University School of Public Health and Butabika Mental Hospital 2023 survey, at least 30% of Ugandans have mental disorders, translating to 14 million people. Men are the most affected.