SHOULD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH BE SHAMEFUL?

 

DJ Irawo: The Maverick

My parents unsuccessfully tried to prevent me from sharing my mental health stories online.

Whenever my parents took me for my psychiatric sessions at the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital at Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun state, I would try to take pictures and videos of myself walking by the trees.

Those trees are beautiful and peaceful.

The ambience of that hospital is serene, soothing and calming.

Soon, I would love to visit the doctors and patients.

I would love to show myself to the doctors as a product of their intellectual efforts.

I would love to show myself to the patients as encouragement of what would be if they take their medicine and therapy according to prescription.

I would love to shoot a music video in that environment too.

As I was saying, they said that I was disgracing their family.

So, I stopped using my parents' names on my wall.

I have stopped using my ex-husband's name even before our marriage packed up.

I am Irawo Drummer!

AKA Drum Jamming Irawo!

AKA Disc Jockey Irawo!

Let me disgrace myself by myself.

After a second chance to live, I no longer care about disgrace or anything of that nature.

My aim is to bring light to the issue of mental health in Nigeria.

I am not ashamed to share my story.

I am a living testimony that one can still live a purposeful life after depression, suicidal attempts and divorce.

Check out my Cool Vibe videos about music therapy and mental health via these links:

1. https://fb.watch/7S2GplEfUo/
2. https://fb.watch/7S2JAh459E/
3. https://fb.watch/7S2L0W1nvC/
4. https://web.facebook.com/100000391516877/videos/3555834334439582/

Musically yours,

DJ Irawo