 Yes, welcome back to YNL Morning Special. Thanks to Kala Mival and Masai Kitah for that amazing feature, Tribal. I go by the name of Baimosezo. It's Baimonevi, social media platform and it's always a pleasure. Today is Entrepreneurship Tuesday and our first entrepreneur of the day is a queen. She's a graduate from the University of, Jomakanyata University of Agriculture and Technology and she's specialized in information technology but right about now she's a blogger, she's a head wrap specialist and she's passionate about women empowerment. Mental health please. All right, mental health. All right. Your camera is number four. If I missed anything, I'm worried credentials won't be shared otherwise in the morning. Okay, okay. So where do I start from? You can start with the name all over again. Okay, so my name is Mary Waidrimu. I'm well known as Waidrimu Raps on IG and my Facebook page. I've been a blogger for a year now. I held a few months and I've been doing mostly head wraps and writing very deep captions. I'm all about the positive life. You're all about the positive life. I was talking to you on Instagram and there are so many quotes. One stood out for me. Which one? All right. They say time, time solves everything. Time changes everything but you contradict that and say it's you who is going to change the things. But it's true. How true is that? Okay, thank you. Things cannot be the same tomorrow as they are today, even if I sleep from now till tomorrow. Let's dive into the mental health bit because when I started sharing on mental health Mondays, which is a feature that started early January, December, they're both, it was all about depression for me because I've suffered from depression. And how long was it? I was diagnosed in November 2015. Yeah, so the journey to recovery is actually what makes me relate to that quote so much because I stayed in denial for about two and a half years. And then in 2017 is when I actually decided to take my power back because you know, depression is all about making you feel powerless, making you feel like you're worthless. Well, I had no will to live and I was actually dying from that, not any other thing. So when I decided that it's time for me to take back my life, take back my, you know, take back my power, take back who I am, I had to work towards making that happen. The solution is within, that's all you're saying. Yes, yes. And you have to put in the work. You don't just sleep, cry and then you hope that God will come through for you. All right, when it comes to mental health, people don't understand. Is it that some people are prone to it a little bit more? And some people are safe from it. Like just other diseases. Some people are immune to malaria. Some people get mosquito bites more than just malaria. Is it the same for mental health? I don't think so. Anybody is prone to it? Yeah, anybody is prone to it. And sometimes even the people that you think are from, you know, good families, they have good support. They have things going for them. They have issues as well. Everybody has issues. Everybody has issues. Mental health specifically deals with people who are unable to cope with the everyday stresses of life. Every day you have to wake up early. I come from Rungai, so I have to get stuck in traffic. I have work to do. I have to meet deadlines. I have to be up for meetings. You know, the daily stresses of life. If you can't cope with them, then you have a mental health issue. If you can't cope with them, then what if you can't reply to all your emails and your texts? No, it's not about prioritising when it comes to that. All right, all right. I get your point. But how? So when it comes to mental health again, there are certain parameters that you use to understand if somebody is suffering or not. What are some of these parameters? Well, first of all, you'd have to check on issues such as, you know, over-intelligence. Are you over-intelligent on TED Talks? Are you getting high on, you know, all the various drugs beyond limits? You know, there's this thing called moderation that people don't want to practice. Are you keeping a social life? And I don't mean that you're out 24-7 or interacting with people 24-7, but are you making an effort to at least meet people? Are you isolated? You know, people who are suffering from issues and they might not even realise it. Most of them are usually in seclusion. They push everyone away. They over-indulge. Like, I know of people who have over-indulged on antidepressants. Because once they went to hospital, they were told that you have issues. You know, this insomnia, this not eating properly, not resting, means that there could be something. So let me prescribe this for you, you know, an antidepressant. Doctors are very good at prescribing. Oh, yeah. Yeah. And they don't realise it. Especially the physicians. Yes. So when it comes to mental health, your advice to see a professional psychiatrist? Yes, yes, yes. You have to. Because physicians are always going to prescribe them. Yeah, they want to just write those things down and move on to the next patient. Because I think most of them are all about the money and not actually helping. Most of them. Let's say most of them. WhiteFive4 channel on Twitter, WhiteFive4, Andesco channel on Instagram, and WhiteFive4 on Facebook. Don't forget to tell us where you're watching us from. The topic of conversation is mental health. We have Mary, who I remember in the studio with us, and graduate from the university at Jayquat. All right. Is it still a boy school? Like they do still say. Well, I was in Jayquat current. So I can't actually relate to Georgia. In Uptown it's different. Oh, yeah. It's definitely different. So, you said seclusion is one thing you can notice from somebody who is depressed, of intelligence, and not being able to do what is required of you. Those are some of the key factors that you can get to know. Yeah, and in my case, I had lost my will to live. So I was going into high potential. You know, my body was shutting down. All right. There are levels to it as well. Yeah. So what are some of these levels? I think the first one is where you start by withdrawing. You know, like that social dude in your school, just start going quiet. Or someone who is usually quiet and reserved becomes more quiet and more reserved. Then you get to the point where there's hopelessness. You know, you feel like everything is ganging up against you. Everything is conspiring to bring you down. Then there's that point of no return where, but there's help which can help you come back. But when you get to the point of no return, you'll be like where you just want to die because you think that there's solace on the other end. Yeah. All right. What about always thinking that grass is green on the other side? Is it also another problem? Yes, it is. Because you know, you'll not be living in the now. You'll not be present. You'll be living in the if I get to university, then it means I'll get a job. So let me work hard and get my first class honours so that I get that job. If I get a job, I'll be able to buy a car which will make me happy. If I buy a car, I'll be able to go to... So the problem is also finding fake sources of happiness. Yes. If there's one thing I appreciate is that happiness is an inside job. Wonderful. Yes. Wise-wise, from everywhere, all right. Yeah, so like you have to find it within you because otherwise external things cannot cause you to be happy at all. And I appreciate so much, you know, this animation called Inside Out. Inside Out. We can find it on YouTube. Oh yeah. It's good for somebody who's diagnosed with depression. Yeah, it's good. What is the name of the animation again? Inside Out. Inside Out. Yeah, yeah, because like the main thing or let me say main character is called sadness, who is blue, and at the end of the movie you get to realise that sadness is not a bad thing. It just makes you human. Yeah, you can't be happy 24-7. By the way, I'm not trying to claim that. You can't be happy 24-7. But there has to be, you know, a variety of feelings could be happy at this time and then sad but not too sad again because, you know, if you're in a depressive state, highs and lows are so extreme. All right. So when somebody is suffering from depression and people at least get some symptoms in science, it's very easy to seclude the person. Yes, it is. Because everybody is having their own problems. And people feel like having that person around is going to add into your own problems. What would you tell people who know other people who are living with depression? How do you approach this? Because life is as stressful as it is already. I think, or I believe, that you can spare two, three minutes to just write a lovely message to your friend. For instance, I have my girls who text me, you know, like last night I told one of them that I'm so excited and nervous to be on TV for the first time. And she was like, come on woman, you know, you're a powerhouse. So I'm sharing you on. The people look up to you already. Not just that. The main thing is support, you know, getting that moral support. Because once, like in my case, once you've suffered from depression and then you've gotten to a point where you're actually doing content creation, it means that you're exposing yourself to the world, you know. And that makes you vulnerable in a deeper sense because you don't know what if I post this thing and then I get bashed online. Yeah, because it makes you a bit, let's say cautious and not weak. Vulnerability is not a bad thing, but to some extent it's not so. Too much of anything is dangerous. Yeah. Let's talk about social media now. And social media, we're living in the age of information. Everything is posted online. People are addicted to likes and comments. People are addicted to views. People are chasing this high. Every time people are on their phones. Do you think it's contributing or it's forming some new age? Form of depression. Some new. Yes, it is. I think a few weeks ago I read about this chick who committed suicide because she got unfollowed by a celebrity. Yeah. Wow, that's shallow. And another one started cutting herself, you know, which is also a kind of coping mechanism. So she started cutting herself according to the number of likes and dislikes and you know according to the engagement on social media. Yeah, which I think looks a bit or feels a bit desperate because you know you don't get outside validation if you're not confident. If you, you know, that, that, that chase of likes, comments and engagement sometimes could come from a point of looking for validation from strangers online. You know, and that, that is a very big problem. And the Chinese said that they said that the social media has become a kind of heroine, an electronic heroine. So to get high on your 15 seconds of fame you want many likes, many comments, many views. So it's a drug. Yes, it's a drug. And some people are turning it to a coping mechanism as well. People are finding happiness in this, which is very dangerous. What do you think is a solution for this? The solution for that is first of all self-awareness. No, I have another segment on personal growth. So Monday we have the motivation for Monday? No, Monday is mental health Monday. Mental health Monday? Yeah, and then on Wednesdays mostly I do personal growth. Yeah, because I realized that it got to a point where I needed to know who I am, what am I about, what do I do, what do I like. And how do you get to that self-realization? How do you go to the forest and meditate? Do you read books? What do you do to get to that point of self-realization? Because it's very easy to get confused. Your friends like this, your parents want this, your girlfriend wants this, your boyfriend wants this. So it's very hard for you to realize yourself. How do you get to that point? First of all, just note I'm a reader, a very adept one. So reading is one thing? Yeah, and I'm infinitely curious. Being curious is another thing. Yeah, it's another thing and it's a skill that's lacking in most of the millennial which sucks to some point. And I've been working with a training company, so I sat in on many trainings and I had a coach, who is a life coach and was a colleague then. So through our trainings, because I was understanding through our trainings, through the various sessions I took part in, I was able to realize that self-awareness is actually a very valuable thing. Yeah, so I started getting curious, who am I? What do I stand for? What are my core values? What makes me me? What is it that's unique about me? What is it that I love about myself? It's a journey. I didn't get all these answers in a week. All right, it's a journey. Yeah, it's a journey. In Nelson Mandela's book, I like how he, when you think he's going to talk so bad about being locked up for 27 years, I think, he looks at the jail cell in a very different light, in a very different perspective. Somewhere you can go, somewhere you don't get a chance to interact with outside world, so you get a chance to interact with yourself and realize yourself. Do you think your approach to life is also very important when it comes to things like this? Yes, it is. Because as long as you don't know what you stand for, you'll be like a flag, such that your mother influences you. Your sister claims that she's... Don't forget we Africans, your mom is bound to influence you. Yeah, but you have to have your own stand, you know? Yeah, because there are things that my mama tells me, you know, she's watching. But you say, you know, this cannot work in 2019. Yeah, I'm like, mama, I can't do this. I love you, but no. Yeah, there are things that my sister could tell me. And I would tell her, no, okay, I'm a first born. But you know, nowadays we're all opinionated. Yeah, and I could tell her strongly, no, I'll not do this. All right, before we get to what you're getting from this, helping people in this process, I'd like you to give us some of the steps of just getting out of this depression. If you can't afford a psychiatrist, what are some of the activities you can do from physical activities to just mental activities that you can engage in? If you feel like you're prone to depression. Okay, what I found most helpful is number one, engaging in exercise. Exercise is very important. Cardio helps with blood flow. So in a way, it also helps you to have enough circulation to your brain, start getting more creative. Higher number two, you have to get a hobby. And I don't mean these crazy hobbies that you go chugging drink. No, you don't do that. Like I started crocheting in, when was it in June? When was it? June 2015. But then got lost interest because I didn't know like how important it would be. But I realized since my recovery, that crocheting was actually good. Because the more you go line by line, there's a lot of repetition. Like I could count one to nine and then you add three, one to nine, add three. So it's meditative. It's meditative in a way. Even yoga, there's a lot of counting in yoga and meditating as well. I also appreciate yoga so much. And especially learning how to actually do guided meditation. Because you know, you have to deal with yourself all your life. So if you can't stand it. You're all you got. I know right, like uncle Snoop said. Uncle Snoop, thank you for quoting uncle Snoop. We are bringing you back to him for Thursday, by the way. So you're all you got. So crocheting really helped you through a process. So getting a hobby is very important. Also meditating and physical exercise in yoga. And the best part is that all these things are available on YouTube. Yes, you can learn them on YouTube. And all you need is put aside some time for participating in these things. And you'll see that growth in you, in yourself. How do you come from IT training to helping people with mental health and writing about it? Yeah, I was waiting for that one. Yes, it's here now. Let's deal with it. So I've always been a woman of many passions. And I think I just love helping. Because over the years, you know, over the years when I was suffering through different issues, I don't know whether I should get into them. Yeah, but it's not necessary. But at least we understand you have gone through it. Mm-hmm. When I was going through issues, I had people to work with me. Yeah, like there's a time I had serious study issues. And a friend's dad gave his time for me to just air whatever was going on. And then, you know, after like a three-hour session, he's like, you know what? On behalf of all good fathers, I would like to apologize because of what he mentioned the things I was talking about. Yeah, and that one gave me freedom to know that. I mean, these things are real and they just happened, but I'm light at heart. Now I can move on. Yeah, so when my mom was not in my life for some time, I had a mother who stood in for her, my best friend's mom. You know, when I stood the loss of my grandma at age 19, I had friends working with me. So I would like to give back. You know, once you heal, of which, you know, you have to work on dating, once you heal, you wonder what next? Because, you know, you ask yourself, what next? And then your parent tells you, you have to get a job. Yeah, so you have to do this and this course first before we can talk. Yeah, so once you heal, you have to pass on that gift to others. So you help others heal. You help others realize, Gumbay has been suffering from this thing. You help others, like I've helped others realize that depression doesn't actually have a face. It could be wrapped pretty, dressed so nice, very petite and comfy, but depression does not respect anyone. Naibagui. Yeah, haibagui. Changamze. Yes. Even kids be going through this thing. So your journey to recovery is what inspired you to get into this. Are you still practicing IT? Yes, but in terms of social media management. In terms of social media management and your blogging. All right. You're very passionate about head wraps. Yes, I am. Why is this? So when I was discovering myself, I kept thinking, there's a legacy that I'd like to carry on because I grew up with my grandma and my auntie and I never once saw her hair like until that point when it was early Sunday mornings when she's getting ready for church. So if you're going to the Shamba, if you're going to the shop, if you're going, you know, if you're going for any social occasions, she used to have her head wrapped all the time. And I was like, you know, of all legacies, I'd like to take her courage, her confidence and her head wraps. So here I am carrying on a legacy. All right. So this is a legacy that you are carrying on. Yeah. All right. On your Instagram, I see them a lot. If we can project the Instagram page on screen, I've seen the head wraps a lot. Is it a business that you're running as well? Currently not. Though I do make... So I do a few tutorials every now and then. I write very deep quotes. I explain processes, but maybe in future, I'll even drop a line for my own scouts. Yeah, because I feel that everyone should have, you know, have that identifying factor. All right. Yeah. So you don't advocate for head wrapping, like everybody has to wrap their heads. You know, that's a personal choice. That's a personal thing. Yeah. But I'm so humble that workplaces in Kenya allow you, even though you're a Christian, to wrap your head. Because, you know, sometimes there'll be issues, because, you know, people believe that, no, as long as you're not a Muslim, you should not be covering your head. But then there's that provision. When I went to get my passport, I was asked, do you wrap for it just reasons? All right. Let's go back to the Instagram. This is a very beautiful quote right here. Be the reason someone smiles today. All right. So it's not advised that you be selfish also when it comes to these things. That's what I've been getting for. It's not advised that you be selfish. Yeah, don't be. Be the reason somebody smiles. Yeah. When you make somebody smile, the energy bounces back to you. Wonderful. I'd like to get some of the quotes. I'm really getting inspired today. We can pose there. My best is. Come, come, come, come. Back, back, back down, back down. My best is just go. Just go back, back down, back down, back down, back down. This one with a basket hat symbol. Yes. All right. So we. We wear crowns over here, boo. Like all women wear crowns. So this is your crown right here. Yeah, this is my crown. This is your physical crown, but there's still a figurative crown. Yeah, there's a figurative one. Like I hold you in dignity. I hold you with respect. And I honor you for giving me your time for coming onto my platform. Wow. Wonderful. The quotes are so many. All right. There's another one. Don't be satisfied with stories about how things have gone with others and fold your own myth. Yes. And this is actually one of those things that I hold close to my heart because, you know, I grew up in a house where you're told you have to dress this way. You have to behave this way. It does not matter what you feel. But once I decided to unravel those myths, I found so much freedom, so much of it. All right. Another thing I notice from your Instagram is that there's so many selfies. Yeah. Self-love. Not just self-love. I feel like if I put up so many edited pictures, I start feeling fake. I always do a mental checkpoint. So I've done this number of posts, this man. How many of them feel like me? And I'm like, this feels good. This feels good. This feels good. If I have an issue with one, I'll have to go and edit even the caption. Yeah, because I want to represent myself in the humanliest way possible. The way possible. Yes, humanly. And the best way you feel. Yeah. Wonderful. That is powerful. Somebody who has lived through all this. So this is that segment of the interview where we talk about what's trending in the world right now. And I have two topics for you. One is about the sanitary pads. That were trending online. Did you see the story? Oh, yeah, they were nasty. Yeah, that we are getting lesser quality than the people in Europe. Somebody went to Europe and just tried the ones in Europe. And when she came back, the feeling was not the same. The experience was not the same. What do you think about this particular topic? You know, I keep thinking about this. Most companies have made Africa a jumping place. And it's so easy for us to get substandard quality because sometimes we find speaking up a bit hard. So once anyone, any product is challenged, I realize that this company is normally, you know, making better quality after we complain not before. Yeah, so. So it's upon us to stand up for our rights. It's not just upon us. Excuse me. We deserve quality products. You know, we deserve things that make us feel good because I don't think I'd use a pad that makes me feel, you know, that leaves me, leaves my skin feeling all dry and crusty and, you know, that's nasty. Yeah, so I don't know. I think we need to stand up as Africans to get the quality that we deserve. Yeah, we deserve better. All right, another story. Pastanganga has been trending online with the journalists that he had a rango with. The journalists said that pastors need qualification, at least a degree to start a church. And Pastanganga was all about, this is all about a calling from God. We don't need degrees. What do you think of? I can tell from your face. I don't roll my eyes. I can tell you have an opinion on this, which is shared with the people. First of all, I feel that callings are overrated. I'm a Christian, by the way. But still, you know, I could be called to, like, to help other people heal, like what I've been doing. But if I don't use the right means, if I use means that make me sound or come out as vain, or make some of... Or if you're in it for profit. Yeah, if I make someone else feel small so that I can rise above them, that's not the right way. That is not the right way. Pastas in Kenya have been, you know, they've been doing very, very terrible things. Some of them, let's stick to... Yeah, some of them, they've been doing terrible things in the name of God. You know, men of the cloth don't have a good name. That's one thing I know for sure. But if you have a qualification, and then, okay, let's say you have that calling, and then you have the qualification, that's an added advantage. Because you realize that... You have an understanding of the word, and you also have the calling to back it up. Yeah, because surely, I'm sure, I don't have any inspiration. You read the verse and you're like, this is for me. Yes. This is for me. This is for me. And you preach it to your friends, but does that make you a pastor? Not really. It doesn't. It takes a journey, it takes steps, it takes the calling, it takes the understanding to be a pastor. Thank you very much for sharing your opinion with the people. As we come to the end of this, you've been nominated for the Cortex Award. Oh yeah. How did it feel like when you got nominated? And which category is this? I was nominated as a blogger who advocates for mental health and personal growth. You see, that has got nothing to do with my raps. I get it, I get it. So, I felt very humble. I remember when I got the DM from Cortex, Kenya, I read it and I was like, is this thing real or am I dreaming? And then I just stayed in denial for about two hours. And then I replied to them and told them I'd be very humbled and honored to be a part of your nominees. So, over the last few days, I've been in that dream state because it still feels surreal. But you're going to win. How can we get to vote for you? So, sadly voting closed yesterday at 11.59. When are they announcing the winners? Today. Today. So, by the end of the day, we'll know if you're a winner. Yes, yes. All right, we hope for the best for you, all the best for you. And keep doing what you're doing. Keep helping the kids, keep helping the people, keep inspiring the world in a positive way. What is your dream? Oh my goodness. With this, what is your vision? I'm pretty sure when you started this, you had a vision, especially with Kenya. What would you like Kenya to be like when it comes to matters of mental health? Okay, first of all, I wanted to, or I still want to, because it's, you know, it's a process. I want to demystify this whole thing, mental health, because when people hear anything mental health, they start, you know, envisioning. Stigma number one. Yeah, and there's so much shame attached to it. Yeah, and shame is what makes people, what prevents people from seeking help and actually healing. Yeah, so I'd like Kenya to be a country where I'm not ashamed of being a depressed person, because I can get help, I can get a support group, I can get a system that works, I can get into a routine that makes me feel that I have control over my life. You know, I can get to understand what mental health is, because you know, if you don't know the basics, you can't know the advanced issues. Yeah, and mental health is not just limited to full-blown madness, even eating disorders included. Sleeping disorders as well. Sleeping disorders. Attention deficit as well. Oh yeah. Yeah, so mental health is not just so narrow, you know, it's not about that person who is walking around naked, collecting papers. Yes, people who tend to put it in an envelope like that way. Yeah, so that's my biggest vision when it comes to mental health. So as a brand, my biggest vision is to offer value to anyone and everyone who is coming onto my platform. So you don't just come in and leave empty-blank. You know, you like to... You come and leave with something. Yeah. Wonderful. How can they catch you on social media and do you have a hotline for somebody who's going through severe depression? You can't raise number four. Ah, well, I don't have a hotline just yet, but I'm very active on Instagram. My name is Meryu Erimo, at Weirimo Raps. Not rapping, you know. Ah, I see, I see a hip-hop. Yeah, I'm close, no. Yeah, rapping. Raps. The W-R-A-P-S. Yeah, Weirimo Raps. Weirimo Raps. It's the same on Facebook. It's the same on Twitter. Yeah, so my DMs are usually open. Yeah, I've had these conversations with people with dirty issues. I've had conversations with people who didn't know what depression meant. I've had talks with people. All this quadim. Yes, my DM is so busy. You take time and text people and write people. Yeah. And of course there's a point where I can't help where we need an assist, where we need, like, advanced help. You know, so I've been a member of a support group which has counselors and all. So I refer people to the counselors that I know that are Christian. When I watch TV series and movies, I see people who are going through drug addiction, mental health cases, post-traumatic stress. They have support groups where they just go and talk about things. Do we have such things in Kenya, by the way? Yeah, I just realized that a few days ago, sorry, a few weeks ago that we have, we have a support group for people recovering from drugs. And then I was in a support group for people recovering from various issues, divorce and separation, issues that come with being a senior bachelor or a senior bachelor rate. Issues due to depression, daddy issues, mommy issues. But I would like to come up with one support group for specifically for people going through depression and then maybe you could branch to others. Yeah, because we all need help. We all need help. Everything that can get it, what day it is, in case they need support. You can direct them to the necessary authorities or you can help where you can help. While Rimo wraps on Instagram, this is our first entrepreneur of the day on Entrepreneurship Tuesday. Thank you very much for hanging out with us. If you're suffering, please, while Rimo has said you can talk to her, while Rimo wraps on Instagram, she'll direct you appropriately to the right authorities or to the right people who can help you or where she can help, she will help. WhiteFive 4 channel on Twitter, WhiteFive 4 underscore channel on Instagram and WhiteFive 4 on Facebook is the way to reach us. Don't forget the hashtag Why In The Morning and Entrepreneurship Tuesday and you've used your comments, your suggestions and your questions. I've invited and please tell us where you're watching us from across the 47 counties. Represent your county on Why In The Morning. Thank you very much for coming. We appreciate you. We'll be back with tomorrow of Why In The Morning so don't go nowhere.