Mental health is such a pertinent issue that has no respect for age, and as young people, we need to get involved a little bit more just so that we are able to help the next person around us. Today, MTN Pulse caught up with Leo Rwai Kanyesigye, who is doing marvelous work as a mental health advocate and software Developer. We get to know him more….

Pulsers would like to know you. Who is Rwai? 

My name is Leonard Rwai Kanyesigye, but you will probably find it easier locating me around my peers if you ask for Rwai, and Leo around my work circles. I am 27 years old, for now, but will be 28 in 2 weeks. I finished my PLE from St Kizito Primary School, and then moved to Ntare School where I spent 6 years for both my O’level and A’level certificate. 

I was later admitted to Makerere University doing a Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering.

What do you do currently?

Professionally, I am currently working as a remote software engineer with an american firm called Sootchy Inc, that is combining Artificial Intelligence enhanced financial planning, the power of community, and tax-efficient incentives to remove the need for student loans in the US.

I am also a practicing counselor, in the process of certification having dedicated 6 months to studying and training in the profession. 

Why mental health? What sparked your desire to advocate in that space?

That’s a good question considering the fact that 4 years back it was a topic that I knew nothing about. There are some things that you can not fully comprehend until you experience them, and for me, going through a season of depression was the eye-opener to mental health and sparked my desire to do something in that domain.

For how long have you been doing it?

I have had ups and downs, and moments of inactivity as a person in this campaign, but overall, 3 years now. 

Tell us about Broken Vessel, what inspired it?

I did not graduate with my class, I got a retake in my final year and I had to wait for the next year. As a software engineer, since our skills are our biggest asset more than the actual “degree”, you would think it would be easy to get a job but that was not the case. Like many youths after university, I struggled with the pressure and expectations of some family members for not graduating,  struggled to pay rent and also just to survive, and that coupled with other personal situations back at home, broke up  in my then relationship.

Amidst this, I went into depression and also developed panic attacks, which are as painful and intense as actual heart attacks, I was only able to distinguish them after doing a check up. The doctor did not treat me for anything but simply took me to his office, and talked to me about life, mental health and that was the beginning of my journey with mental health.

These may seem light because the truth is people out there have had worse situations, but to me, it was like the worst year. And sadly, it’s a theme that most Ugandans go through after university. 

It so happened that, that was also around the same time many student’s around MUBs and MUK were committing suicide and i felt that if they had the kind of enlightenment that the doctor gave me about mental health, or if someone had told them it will be okay, maybe they would still be here with us today.

I quit my job, which I had recently started, and went into a 40-day season of fasting and praying. I knew I had no plan, vision, and objective, only passion and as a Christian, I knew if God had put this desire on my heart, I would be able to find what to do if I sought him.

It’s hard to believe, but for those days, I was in my single room fasting and praying, and also doing an online course. After a couple of weeks, Broken Vessel was born.

Today, Broken Vessel describes itself as a non-profit organization enabling more candor and unashamed conversations about mental health, creating a safe place for the victims of mental health struggles, and facilitating institutional change.

What we basically do is 

• Create awareness about mental health, by engaging in various activities and using our social media to spread this campaign.
• Provide help to people who need mental health services; We have a program called the 70-30 bill share, this basically means when some needs a professional therapist/counsellor and they can not afford it, we cover 70% of their bill and hope they will cover 30%.
• For those who still can not afford the 30%, we have a program called the listener program. Under this program, Broken Vessel assigns a trained volunteer to speak to you and walk with you. This is our way of maintaining a follow up so that people are able to get help even when they can not afford it
• Broken Vessel does not own any counsellors, but has a network of collaborations with organizations in the field of mental health, so for those who can afford the services, we are able to recommend to them, counselors and therapists.

You can contact Broken Vessel mainly on our WhatsApp Number  +1-234-529-3191 or on Twitter @brokenvesselug

Being an empath, the topic of Mental health is such a sensitive one, how have you dealt with all that people share with you?

As an empath, the struggle is not just what people share with you, but also what you see and hear concerning the people around you. I can not say I have managed to deal with it, but I can say there are a couple of things I do to try to protect my own mental health.

For example, every year, I take breaks from social media to just isolate myself from people and what’s going on in the country, as a practicing counselor, I tend to intentionally not listen to people during certain periods unless i have to, instead i focus my energies on enabling volunteers and all well wishers of Broken Vessel get more involved. And of late, when I have some balance in my leisure budget, I will travel or go get myself a nice consolation meal when I am sad or overwhelmed.

Overtime, I have come to understand that you need to understand yourself and figure out what works for you, and what’s feasible to you. For example, while travel is therapeutic, it’s not feasible to everyone. You just have to figure out what works for you.

Therapy is such an alien thing to many young people, especially in Uganda. What can be done better to encourage young adults to seek professional help?

I think the biggest issue I have seen with our young people is first the mindset, many people in Uganda, and Africa as a whole consider therapy a western thing. And you can’t blame them because growing up, we believed that toughening up even in seasons of pain was a measure of strength. The responsibility to change this mindset does not only lie with organizations and the government, but with all of us, especially young parents. It begins with us telling our loved ones it’s okay not to be okay, and then giving them the emotional support they need.

The other issue would be ignorance about mental health services around the country and then also affordability. Most Ugandans can not afford the existing services of therapy, and that’s where friends and family should look out for one another instead of stigmatization.

Do you think the Mental Health Act that has recently been passed by the Ministry of Health will have an impact on the work you do? If so, how?

I think the Mental Health Act is the beginning of great things to come in the space of mental health. I feel it compliments some of the work we do, like for example the Act provides for the protection of persons with mental illness. This is very crucial when it comes to fighting the stigmatization that comes when someone comes out about their mental health struggles.

Would you say social media has played a role to you as a mental health advocate? 

Yes it has, I have been able to establish a number of connections across social media that have taught me a thing or two about mental health. And also, given that youth are the primary targets of Broken Vessel, social media has been the only effective way of communication.

As a software Dev, is there any way you can say that you have been able to apply what you’ve learned about mental health in the work you do as a dev? How?

As a developer, I am constantly experiencing impostor syndrome especially in times when I am not able to implement a functionality or meet a deadline or understand a certain technological term. Imposter syndrome is loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. My work with mental health has taught me to know how to handle such season.

One myth about Software developers that you would like to debunk now….

We are not always as smooth and fast as movies portray us to be, as a matter of fact, most of us would be jobless if we were not allowed to google.

Now that we know a bit about what you do, what are your hobbies?

Is texting considered a hobby? Haha

Well, I would say my hobbies are more indoor, playing FIFA, trying out nice cooking recipes, making music playlists, sleeping, watching movies, and eating nice food. 

Who is Rwai outside what people know about him?

I have a fear of heights, and fear of deep water hence that is why the only time I am swimming is when I am dreaming or fantasizing about it.

How would you like to be remembered on this earth?

I am not perfect, far from it actually, but as a Christian, my biggest desire would be to live a life that inspires people to actually seek Christ. 

Let’s talk more about mental health. It is a topic that many people shy away from, especially the elder folk. How can we young people help them in this regard? 

I think the first thing to do is understand and respect the context of one another, people believe the things they believe because they have lived them, witnessed them, or have been taught to do so. We can only help them in this regard by sharing what we know while respecting their opinions on the matter. My mother certainly does not understand what I try to do as regards to mental health but I always try to approach the topic in ways she may relate with, and that’s how she has been able to be supportive of it. So likewise, we need to explain in ways that they may relate to.

What’s the simplest way to first diagnose yourself as a potential case for immediate help?

The simplest way would be to take notice of how you have been feeling, sometimes we are just stressed.  Stress is a response to daily pressures or a threatening situation, while anxiety is a reaction to the stress. Anxiety, which has no clear cause, tends to last longer and be more difficult to treat. Depression on the other hand, when you’re depressed, it affects just about everything in your life — how you think, feel, behave and function. You may experience one or more of these symptoms: Discouragement, Sadness, Hopelessness, Anger, Lack of motivation or interest in life in general, Low energy level, Insomnia, Feeling overwhelmed by daily tasks and personal interactions

If these feelings last longer than two weeks, and interfere with daily activities like spending time with friends, caring for your family or going to work, consider seeking for help

What advice would you leave with us? 

Pay attention to the things you would term triggers, anything that disturbs your sleep is a potential trigger and you’re best served staying away from it.

What have been the challenges you’ve faced? 

The biggest challenge for me has been how I portray myself in order for the message I preach to be received. As a software developer, I find it hard to convince people, especially potential partners, that I am equally qualified as someone who did social work or psychology.

I also have to read quite a lot about most of these things to be able to lead the team effectively, as a leader, it is imperative you have a clue about almost everything your organization is doing.

And ofcourse, finances, the 70-30 bill share is like the “meat” of Broken Vessel, and yet it has been hard sustaining it financially especially since most of it comes from my pocket, and willing well wishers.

What are you most grateful for while on this journey?

I am grateful for the journey itself, I have been able to meet new people, live different experiences and also appreciate life in a whole new perspective.