Adelle Onyango: How I overcame my suicidal thoughts
By Mercy SimiyuRenowned media personality, Adelle Onyango, has been in the public eye for over a decade. Lately she entertained her listeners with laughter on her podcast, as well as sharing her struggles with suicidal thoughts.
Adelle, who has been a leading voice in the fight against gender-based violence, used both her podcast (Legally Clueless Africa) and her Instagram page to share her story.
“I felt like my personal life was crumbling and with that came the strongest suicidal thoughts that I have ever battled, it got really bad. I remember that week it got bad. I remember that week I was supposed to meet my therapist on Thursday and that week I told myself let’s just make to the therapy session, so that meant that I had to take it one day at a time and it was difficult until Thursday, and when Thursday came I cried the entire session. I can’t say I felt immediately better,” Adelle recounted.
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While commemorating the International Women’s Day In Seattle with the Moth and the gates foundation,
Adelle said celebrating the International Women’s Day was a reminder of the passing on of her mother.
“It was a difficult month because the end of March marked 10 years since my mum died so I was just lonely on steroids. And the balancing the thoughts was so hard and still shop for work, that was difficult,” said Ms. Adelle
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But even after battling with suicidal thoughts, the bubbly personality has never shied away to speak out on mental health. She speaks at events and shares her story, hoping to inspire others to take control of their lives and seek help when they need it.
She wants people to know that it’s okay to struggle, but it’s not okay to give up.
“I am happy that I took a chance of life and on myself. I mean, a year from that low point I am having a global impact. Quite a few of us are battling suicidal thought and everybody story is different. If you have a capacity to give life a chance and give yourself a chance please do. You will be surprised, life will surprise you. If you have the capacity to be kind to people please be kind, you don’t know what people are fighting,” she said.
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