Richard Mazimpaka, committed suicide last week in what family members say was a result of depression. According to friends and workmates, the former employee of GT Bank Rwanda, was hard working and exemplary but during the days leading to his death, he exhibited tendencies that were uncommon about him.

According to accounts of workmates and friends, he had issues with his Nigerian boss and had resigned on Monday last week before being convinced to resume his duties. On the fateful day, he took his wife to work and headed straight back home where he found his children in the living room and asked them not to disturb him because he wanted to sleep.

On reaching the bedroom, the maid over heard him in the ceiling but since they had set poison traps for rats, she thought he was getting out a dead rat. However, it turned out that he went for the ceiling woodwork, tied a wire around it and hang himself. All the while, no one bothered him since they all thought he was sleeping until his wife came back home and found her husband hanging in the bathroom.

With all the above, anyone would want to know why such a young man, with a good job and a young family, would do such a thing. Well, according to friends, it turns out that Mazimpaka has had depression break downs since childhood but no one thought it would finally get to suicide.

Richard’s case might be among the few but psychiatrists worn that if depression is not treated it can lead to suicide?

According to Marie Josie Kayitesi, a senior counselor and clinical psychologist at National Association of Trauma Counselors (ARCT RUHUKA) depression is a medical illness that causes constant feeling of sadness and lack of interest. It affects how a person feels, behaves and thinks.

Kayitesi says that causes of depression range from someone’s background, standards of living and their life in general.

"These are strong elements that can cause depression and depending on how it is treated, depression can grow and lead an individual into committing suicide.”

She points out that while the symptoms of depression are easy to identify, whether or not that depression can lead someone to commit suicide, is difficult to assess.

"Indications of depression usually involve less communication and isolation of an individual. A person who is depressed is more likely to ignore basic details, like how they dress up, hygiene habits, etc. The person tends to complain about severe headache, loss of appetite, and will be very negative and pessimistic in conversations. A depressed person will most likely suffer from insomnia and it will show in their appearance. However, when depression takes a serious turn and the person is unable to handle it, it drives them to suicide,” explains psychiatrist Kayitesi.

And it’s the strong signs of depression that mostly go unnoticed, says Kayitesi. "If you notice a person behaving very strangely or talking a lot about dead people or how there is no hope in life, it should immediately give you a hint that the person could be suicidal. In fact, it’s an indirect way of asking for help and that help has to be immediate. Most of us make the mistake of ignoring this urgency,” Kayitesi adds.

Depression, like other health related issues, has types and they all vary according to how they are treated. "Low depression is usually short term and whatever a person does is a reaction of the moment. People who suffer from low depression need therapy, exercise, change of environment, but medication is not really necessary at this point,” explains Kayitesi.

The other type of depression is mild depression. "Mildly depressed people exhibit symptoms for a long time. Mild depression symptoms do not disable a person. However, people affected may find it hard to function normally and feel well. Such people can get medication as well as counseling and they need close monitoring,” adds Kayitesi.

The last type is major depression which is most likely to lead a person to suicide. Kayitesi explains that when the above are not treated well, this is the point where a person crosses over and starts getting suicidal thoughts.

"Suicidal symptoms can sometime be difficult to understand. One needs to be observant when dealing with a person going through depression. Some symptoms are indirect, if a person starts saying words such as; "I just can’t deal with everything - life’s too hard”, "I’m better off dead,” "give this to my parents for me”. Or they start giving away things they treasured saying "I want you to keep this”, etc. If you also notice a person obtaining a weapon or writing a suicide note, that is a clue,” she adds.

However, Kayitesi says that the rate of depression in Rwanda is not alarming although the majority of cases they have encountered include mostly the youth.

"Majority of our cases are the youth because of their age bracket and what they experience at their age. Most of them indulge in drugs or other habits that influence how they live their day to day life. The other cases can be found in prisons. We conducted a case study in 2011 at Nyarugenge Prison (1930) and found depressed prisoners,” she says.

Kayitesi says that by asking people who experience signs of depression to immediately seek assistance by undergoing counseling sessions, therapy and seeking medication attention, it doesn’t always have to end tragically. She urges people to desist from indulging in alcoholic drinks and drugs as an escape from depression since they worsen the situation.

dean.karemera@newtimes.co.rw