Destigmatising mental health is key to tackling its challenges

Not only is she is funny and engaging on social media, therapist at Love Lab and Afiya,Dr Kagiso Hawthorne aims to raise awareness and remove some of the stigma of discussing mental health issues and seeking treatment. In this installment of a two part series, she chats to SunHealth about the importance of not staying silent about emotions, and the benefits of seeking therapy. or eye inflammation.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHALLENGES Tell us a little about your backgWrIToHuINnREdLA,TIOsNtTuOdEYiEeCAsRE?and BATSWANA ARE FACED the journey that has led you here?

WHAT CONCERNS DO MOST OF

YOUR PATIENTS PRESENT?

Mayjonr achmallenigseKs tahgatisBoatBsw.aHnaawthorne. I’m a Therapist

are faced with are blindness and at Love Lab and Afiya. I have partnered with my sister Dr. MalebogoEluya popularly known as Dr. Lebo who is a dietician at GPH. I have a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from UB, a Master’s degree in General Education and Counselling from the University of Hull (UK), a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Shenandoah (USA), and planning to start my Ph.D. in Counselling next year. Even though counseling has always been my love, for over twenty-three years my passion was in educating young minds. I was a middle school special education teacher in the UK and US.

I get that question a lot, (Why did you come back to Botswana?). Well, when Covid hit in 2020, I was alone with my now 24-year-old daughter in the house. She graduated from university that same year and she got a job in another state in August. I felt alone and got homesick. So, my siblings and I started planning for me to come back home since I felt that America had nothing to offer me anymore. the following year (2021), I sold everything, resigned from the teaching job that I loved so much, said goodbye to my friends and colleagues, packed up, and came home. I had come home to start my life at age 47 and it was the scariest decision I ever made. When I got here, I immediately partnered with my sister who takes care of the dietetics part of our clients and I take care of the therapy part. I think we make a pretty good team.

What is the biggest myth about therapy?

The biggest myth about therapy is, it’s only for those who suffer from mental illness. Meaning most Batswana believe that “kebotseno” and as long as they are not out running the streets naked, they are fine.