His deafening silence didn’t spark to many, some thought he was an attention seeker, others scorned him as they watched while he slipped into an abyss. He became too reserved and didn’t want to communicate as he felt he was judged and labelled. His mental health deteriorated, nobody bothered to ask as he swiftly sank deep into addiction.
It’s common knowledge that a lot of people are battling all sorts of addictions, from alcohol and cigarettes to drugs and other stuff that just sucks the life out of them. Behind closed doors, there’s a whole bunch of struggles people are dealing with.
You know, a lot of addicts aren’t too keen on admitting they’ve got a problem that needs serious help. Instead, they tend to hide behind excuses, trying to justify their abuse. It’s not like they haven’t considered cutting back or quitting altogether, but the weight of addiction usually gets the best of them. Some folks even avoid seeking help because they’re scared of getting judged or labeled. It’s tough out there.
Society doesn’t always handle addiction issues too well either. Lots of addicts really want to turn things around, but the people close to them often let them down. Society tends to downplay their struggles, and people often notice signs of withdrawal or dependence but just look the other way. But hey, these addicts are part of our community – they’re our parents, our kids, our friends. We need to figure out how to bring them into the fold so they can make a positive impact on all of us.
That’s why it’s important to start talking openly about the various types of addictions. We need to have real conversations led by politicians, religious leaders, folks from the community, and family members alike. Right now, there aren’t many institutions pushing for addiction recovery and mental wellness in our country.
However, there are a handful of spots in the country running Addiction Recovery Programs (ARP). It’s at these places where people dealing with addiction get the support they need, learning how to handle and beat their different addictions. Plus, psychosocial support is key in the whole deal, digging into the roots of the addiction to find lasting solutions.
Those in charge and with influence can’t just stay silent about addiction issues that are slowly taking lives. They need to speak up and make a difference.
Some of the institutions offering mental health services include:
St John of God Hospitaller Services
Mzuzu | 01 311 690
St John of God Hospitaller Services
Lilongwe Area 43 | 0992 460 253
Umodzi Rehabilitation Centre
Lilongwe | 0995 499 721
Bwaila Hospital
Vintage Wellness Centre
0995 260 153
