MTN Pulse caught up with Edna Kanyesigye, a lover of Love who is passionate about teaching young people how to have healthy dating relationships because in her journey as a mental health advocate, she has realised that a big number of people she talks to about mental health challenges, the challenges stem from dating or relating with the wrong people. She tells us about her journey…

Who is Kanyesigye Edna?
Kanyesigye Edna is a 23 year old Christian Ugandan girl from Western Uganda, Mukiga from Rubirizi District. Edna is an industrious young girl who loves family , friends and anything that brings happiness to her or the people around her. Edna enjoys celebratory/milestone parties like weddings etc. a little too much because people are normally happiest at these parties and that’s her kind of energy.

Tell us about your education background and courses pursued?

I went to Christ the King Nursery School for Kindergarten education, Nakasero Primary School for primary school, Maryhill High School for secondary School, and currently a final year student of Environmental Science Technology and Management at Kyambogo University.
Well I have also pursed some professional courses but the one I am most proud of is Project Planning and Management at MS-TCDC Arusha Tanzania in 2019.

What do you do currently?

Aside from being a full time student, I have a 9 to 5 which is Programs and Advocacy officer at Faraja Africa Foundation. I also host a mental health show at Faraja Television.

You recently have become internet famous among certain sects of internet users, what would you say made you famous?

First of all whaaaattttttt <surprised face> I am FAMOUSS???? Where? When? How? Anyway I will talk about my social media audience ; I know about 70% of my followers personally( I think some of them will be surprised when they see this; but either I know them from my academic journey or mutual friends or even family, so I like to refer to them as friends because most of them have actually met me and know me. I think they follow me because I post more often haha and also because I am myself really and some of them have actually told me that I am relatable. I feel like I am talking to my friends via my insta-stories (which I update on a daily) or I am updating people who already know me about what is happening in my life in my posts.

Why Mental Health? What sparked your desire to advocate in that space?

I was or I am a victim of some mental health challenges; so during that dark time of my life I really didn’t want to feel alone or crazy. So I felt like there’s a girl like me out there going through the same and would like to know that they are not crazy and that its okay not be okay. In 2018 when I was diagnosed with anxiety, I started looking for information about what was wrong with me because I thought I was crazy or not appreciative of my surroundings and it was difficult for me to find that space so I decided to be that space for someone else.

Instagram is one of your strong tools to advocate, what benefits have come with this as opposed to operating in a time where the internet wasn’t a thing?

I find it easier to use Instagram as a platform because the people on it are more welcoming, less judgemental and civilised group so it’s easier for me to pass on whatever message I want to pass on without being worried if some people will take it the wrong way. A time when there was no internet <cringe face> I cannot say much about that time because as a gen-z, I cannot imagine a world without it.

Judging from your instagram content, you seem an empath. Are you an empath? What would you say makes one an empath?

Yes yess, I am a big big empath. I think what makes me an empath is my ADHD and anxiety because I think of all the bad things that could happen to someone for them to reach the point of opening up. Then I build scenarios of what could happen if couldn’t help them.

The topic of Mental health is such a sensitive one, how do you manage to deal with all that people share with you, especially emotionally?

Honestly at first their stories used to affect me because I am an empath but now I have learnt to compartmentalise these. If the story is too deep and I feel triggered I refer the person to someone who could help them.

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?

Young adults need first of all to understand that mental health challenges are the same as any other health challenges and should treat them as such. For example if you have a stomachache you get pain killers to cure it right, that’s the same way you go for therapy that has been prescribed so cure a mental health challenge.

Mental health is a topic that many people shy away from, especially the elder folk. How can we young people help them in this regard?

We need to explain to the older generation that mental health challenges have been there since time immemorial only that in their generation, people didn’t talk about them that is why the rates of suicide were high and the number of “mad people” were high. The only difference these days is that people are talking about these mental health challenges and people are able to put a name, solution and face to them.

Give us some Pro tips: How can one identify themselves as a potential case for immediate help? How can I tell that I need help?

Pro tip: read, make as much research as possible. Just because it is not affecting you doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have knowledge about it. That way you’re able to easily identify the signs of some of these mental health challenges.

Social media is such a trigger in different ways. How can we balance using social media for the right things and at the same time avoid the triggers that we could potentially come across?

I am going to talk about what I have used to prevent that: stop comparing yourself to some guy on the internet who is showcasing their wins, different people have different levels, pace, stages of growth and that’s okay. 90% of the people on social media don’t share with you their real life. Please know that you have control over what you consume on the internet i.e. you are the one who decides who you follow on social media and who you don’t. If you feel pressured by someone’s account, please unfollow them for sanity. Control your phone, don’t let the phone control you.

What can one do when they feel triggered?

Actually identifying the trigger is the first way of self-care or self-treating for most mental health challenges. You definitely need to solve the trigger; move away , minimize contact or eliminate the trigger of these mental health challenge.

 What are your hobbies?

Attending milestone celebrations haha, watching movies, singing worship songs, I love a great conversation, definitely cooking and baking, sleeping, can I add dancing? haha

Tell us something that many people do not know about you.

I PRIOTISE MY SLEEP/REST, I zone out during conversations, I love Christmas and everything that comes with it.

 How would you like to be remembered on this earth?

I would like to be remembered as a kind person and someone that loved with everything that I had.

What advice would you leave with young people?

READ a lot so that you don’t make mistakes that people have written about. Make your own mistakes and learn from them. Be Kind it’s a harsh world out there. Jesus is the actual answer to literally everything. Have a circle of faith, support and love; you will need them. IT IS NEVER THAT SERIOUS so don’t over think it.

Courtesy photos