Just a day ahead of school’s reopening, disturbing reports of the sad death of a young student have taken the internet by storm.
According to multiple social media posts seen by cnyakundi.com, Serena Nyokabi of Alliance Girls High School took her own life away on Thursday, 7th October 2021 at their Naivasha home.
Additional reports claim that Serena had been undergoing treatment and was seeing a therapist since 2019 over “anxiety disorder”.
“SAD NEWS AS A STUDENT AT ALLIANCE GIRLS HIGH COMMITS SUICIDE DAYS BEFORE SCHOOL REOPENING
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the untimely death of Serena Nyokabi of A.G.H.S.
Serena had been undergoing treatment and seeing a Psychiatrist and therapist since 2019 for anxiety disorders.
Unfortunately, she took her own life on Thursday evening 08.10.21. at their home is in Naivasha,” read one Facebook post announcing her untimely demise.
What is anxiety disorder?
Anxiety disorder is a type of mental health condition characterised by feelings of worry, anxiety or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one’s daily activities.
Examples of anxiety disorders include panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Nyokabi’s death has been received by many as a reminder that mental health among Kenyan youth, is still a big elephant in the room.
Over the last few years, the number of suicide cases among the youth, particularly students, has been on the fastest rise in history.
In Kenya, it is estimated that one in every 10 people suffer from a common mental disorder.
The number increases to one in every four (20-25%) people among patients attending routine outpatient services.
In a 2017 report titled “Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders”, the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked Kenya fifth among African countries with the highest number of depression cases.
