We live in a digital world where, mental health struggles are often hidden beneath the polished veneers of social media profiles, carefully curated to present a perfect life. As we observe World Suicide Prevention Month this September, we must acknowledge that the reality is far different for many. Economic stress, unresolved childhood traumas, and the pressures of daily life weigh heavily on individuals, particularly us the youth.

Fidelis Gakuhi, a mental health activist, published author, and poet, is no stranger to these struggles. Having once battled her own mental health challenges, she is on a mission to remind people that they are doing fine, even when life feels overwhelming.

“I’ve been there,” Fidelis emphasizes. “I once tried to end my life, but someone came through for me. That’s why I believe in paying it forward. This generation carries so much weight from their past, and they need constant reminders that they’re doing okay.”

The Double-Edged Sword of Social Media

It’s impossible to talk about today’s mental health landscape without addressing social media. For many, it serves as a double-edged sword. While it can connect people to stories that inspire and provide a sense of community, it also adds to the pressure, creating unrealistic standards of success, beauty, and happiness.

Fidelis offers a grounded perspective on this: “Social media doesn’t always mirror real life. Gen Zs should learn to manage what they keep and what they discard. The pressure isn’t always healthy.” She acknowledges the positive aspects too, noting how social media can offer relatable stories depending on what one chooses to consume.

Engaging in Conversations: Breaking the Silence

For Fidelis, creating awareness around mental health doesn’t stop at social media posts. She actively engages people in WhatsApp groups and through her statuses, sparking conversations that allow people to feel valued and heard. “Once you ask for their opinion, they feel appreciated, and that’s when they start sharing their experiences. We then try to find solutions together, and when I can’t help directly, I recommend they seek professional help.”

However, Fidelis doesn’t shy away from the challenges that come with mental health advocacy. “It’s heartbreaking when someone reaches out but isn’t willing to put in the work to heal. It’s even more painful when they constantly post suicidal thoughts on social media, yet you can’t reach them,” she notes.

Despite the difficulties, Fidelis always leaves a message of encouragement, reminding those struggling that things can get better. She believes in giving her all and accepting that sometimes, no matter how hard we try, things may not turn out as expected—and that’s okay.

When talking about friendships, Fidelis draws inspiration from Aristotle’s philosophy on friendship which highlights that true friends should enjoy each other’s company and be useful to one another. She applies this theory to her mental health advocacy.

“You should always want the best for your friends. If they reach out, don’t just be an enabler. Lead them towards better solutions without invalidating their feelings,” she urges. This mindset is crucial when dealing with mental health issues within personal circles, as it can at times be a of life-or-death situation.

Fidelis also acknowledges that society still has a long way to go in understanding mental health. “It’s not easy. People are still afraid to engage with the issue. Many still believe that mental illness is more of a spiritual problem than a real illness,” she says. This misconception makes it harder to create a safe pace for recovery.

Nevertheless, she remains hopeful and committed by continuously finding ways to create awareness. She advises that people should look up for agencies like NACADAke that also engage in extensive talks on mental health, especially during this month when the world is spreading awareness on suicide prevention.

In her own social circles, Fidelis has taken steps to make mental health a topic of open discussion. “My friends saw me struggle with mental health issues, and I knew I had to create awareness for them to feel comfortable with it. I even wrote a book, and they were so supportive that I never felt isolated. They’re very open-minded and don’t find the subject heavy,” she says. This openness has allowed her to foster deeper conversations with people who relate to her experiences.

Fidelis believes in the power of conversation and reminds us that everyone has something to offer. “No one is too poor to give. You can play your part by offering advice or referring someone to a specialist. You never know who’s listening or watching.”

In a world that often shies away from discussing mental health, Fidelis urges us to step up and start these conversations. As she reminds us, ignorance is not bliss when it comes to topics on mental health and suicide cases. The time to act is now. If someone is struggling, reach out, offer support, and don’t be afraid to refer them to professionals who can help. It’s about saving lives, one conversation at a time.

The Baking Engineer: Racheal Thande has a moment to talk about her sweet treats; and successfully running her cake store: Cakes by Ray.

Who is Rachel Thande?

Rachael is a God-fearing 24-year-old, daughter to Mr.&Mrs. Thande, a sibling to Elsie and Newton. I am a student pursuing Electrical Engineering and Business Management and to add spice to it; Racheal is the C.E.O of Cakes by Ray. I call myself the Baking Engineer. In my other life, I am a fancied friend, a member of the sanity community and a Rotaracter.

1. Where was the company Cakes by Ray birth from?

Cakes by Ray was birthed from Newton’s Cakes House Ltd. This is my mother’s company located in Kikuyu. The company deals with the commercial production and sale of cakes, cookies and sweet mandazi

1. When did you kickstart your business?

My business began in 2021 the month of August. When people were recovering from the Covid crisis, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life apart from school.

1. What inspired you to start Cakes by Ray?

The urge to be an independent woman has always been my # 1 motivation. The biggest lesson my parents always teach me is not to be dependent on anyone else apart from them. I wanted to start a side hustle while I was still in school to cater for my upkeep. Once in a while, I had other options but baking just fit right cause these are skills I got first-hand and decided to put them into use.

” Cakes by Ray is made of love, happiness and passion…”

1.  Tell us about your baking background and experience.

My baking background and experience wow… My mum is among the prestigious bakers in Kikuyu town at the moment. She began her business in 2012. At this time I was still in primary school so what would happen; I would always be at her shop when we closed for the holidays. I honestly had no break during the holidays. At that time it never made sense to me. Often I would ask why my mum was bounding me to her business and not letting me enjoy my teenage life like the rest. I began as a salesperson and slowly she began to teach me how to bake her products. We used to have so many rejects by then. I would either set the wrong temperature causing the cakes to burn or forget to put baking powder and we would do ugali instead.

So after learning baking she now taught me how to do decor and art on cakes. This was a whole other journey but I am grateful for her patience with me. With time I was the one inducting and training her employees (This was in high school). To date, that’s what I do when I’m on break from school.

1. What sets your baked goods apart from others?

My secret recipe is spice and love. I am in a committed relationship with my flour,
sugar and butter

 How do you source your ingredients?

I source my ingredients from shops in the city and Kikuyu town that is cake shops and wholesales. I will either buy my materials in bulk or as per order depending on the cash flow. It’s pretty much easier buying raw materials in bulk. It saves a few coins.

1. Give us perspective on the Kenyan baking industry, how is it?

The Kenyan baking industry is quite competitive honestly. Almost every young lady is doing this. Getting your own market is a lot cause people out here have
skills. The question is what do I bring to the table? They come to me with a cake inspo and ask if I can deliver. This is what builds our market. You deliver the cake as per the client’s request and once you nail that, the market has just expanded.

”It’s an industry I never regret getting into”

As a young person, how is it being a CEO and running your own business?

It’s the best experience ever. It takes determination, a whole load of patience and consistency. I wouldn’t say it’s been easy neither would I say it’s been tough. It is a whole journey, it evolves: a learning process

1. Walk us through your normal day as a baker.

Since 2021 I have been in a sport. Honestly, this is a whole sport on its own. My life has never been at a stop cause I am always on the go. If I am not in school then I am at work. If I’m not in either of those I serve in church and the community. How I balance all this, honestly, is something I have never understood. My best answer would be once God opens that door for you and gives you an opportunity He will always provide on how to handle it.

2. What are some of your signature or most popular baked items?

My clients love themselves a bit of Bubblegum Cake, Pinacolada, Lemon mint and
Chocolate mint. Cupcakes were my signature products but my market grew. Now I do cakes from 1kg onwards and as time goes I will get to introduce something new

1. How do you stay creative and come up with new recipes?

Have y’all heard of Pinterest… this is the best app I have used in a long while. This gets me to be creative and innovative all the time . It’s the go-to-app before I do decor on a cake, it helps me get an idea of what a client might like on the cake too. I’d prefer Pinterest to YouTube

1. How do you manage your team and company as the CEO?

I create a connection with my people. Once you have a solid relationship with your team. They are more than ready to be productive cause these are the people who have built this
business..they have made this company to be seen out there.

1. How do you balance running a business with other aspects of your life, such as school or personal interests?

Since 2021 I have been in a sport. Honestly, this is a whole sport on its own. My life has never been at a stop cause I am always on the go. If I am not in school then I am at work. If I’m not in either of those I serve in church and the community. How I balance all this, honestly, is something I have never understood. My best answer would be once God
opens that door for you and gives you an opportunity He will always provide on how to handle it

Have you faced any stereotypes or biases as a young female entrepreneur, and if so, how have you addressed them?

As a young entrepreneur not really but as a lady in engineering, I get it all the time. What made people think that ladies can’t wear and overall, hold pliers and get to work ? We are here for an end goal and that’s building our future. In this times , we have ladies who are not afraid to put all their effort and skills out there. I am one of them. I am proud of each and every lady trying to make a living and future for themselves

1. How do you handle trolls and negativity Racheal?

Racheal handles no negative attitude. I do not tolerate this energy. However, it’s
something I get once in a while. Not everyone is a supporter of my achievements. What guides me is love and passion for what I do and getting to understand that what I am doing is for me and not anyone else. I get to choose whether I will brush off the negativity or have that energy in me and I definitely tell myself to wake up and try again

1. A major highlight in your business?

Wow!! This needs a minute…I have always wanted to give back to the society. I’m always on my knees telling God to thank you for how far this business has come because through this business I have learned to give. Second, I have learned to support and share. There’s so much I’d say about business highlights but this has to be a partnership in charity events. My highlight is seeing the smile on
the beautiful faces of those we go to love and give to.

1. What keeps you going?

Prayer, determination and patience.

Every cloud has a silver lining as they say. This is the narrative of Brian Wekesa, the brains behind the Hoops and the Talent. Brian, in December last year pulled off a successful premiere of JAY in the county of Bungoma after tarrying to get it all together. The busy cinematographer had a moment to share his ” JAY ”experience

”I wrote the JAY script back in April 2020 with hope that one day I might be able to fund the production of the film but unfortunately I never did!”

Who is Brian Wekesa?

Brian Wekesa is a passionate filmmaker, photographer and motion graphics designer born and raised in Bungoma, Kenya but currently residing in Eldoret. He’s also a final year Media student at Moi University School of Information Science pursuing a Bachelor in Media Science.

How did you diverge yourself into filmmaking and photography art?

I have always had a burning desire to express myself through art. Growing up, I was fascinated by pictures and art. I picked up a deep interest in both photography and filmmaking during my second year on campus after being involved in the making of a class project film. My interest in the photography field is also related to my upbringing since my dad and two of my uncles were photographers hence it’s in my family. One of my uncles still does photography to date and he serves as an inspiration to me.

In a nutshell, what is Jay is all about?

JAY is a short film about a young ambitious basketball player from the local slums determined to turn his passion for the game into a professional career. Along the way, he gets tangled in drug abuse and peddling. This ends up ruining his only chance to play on the National team. Jay is a reflection of the society. It showcases what many young people go through in our generation; especially those in the sports sector or those trying to develop a career out of their talent.

What was the inspiration behind the writing of Jay?

I wrote the script because I felt the need to portray the struggles to the world. It gives an understanding of the youth situation in Kenya and the continent.

How did you source the casts? Take me through the process.

An audition process was done. We conducted two thorough auditions and were able to get the cast we needed. However, the lead role (Jay) was a great challenge as we needed a guy who is a good actor and can play basketball as well.

Why did you take up the role as a producer?

JAY is my project hence I wanted to oversee its production. I didn’t want to take any chances of delegating the entire production to someone who did not understand what the project meant to me. I wanted to give it all the necessary attention it needed.

How did you end up working with the Kenya Film Commission?

The Kenya Film Commission is a body that was created by the national government. Its sole purpose is not only to promote the film industry in the country but also to support and nurture talent. I got to work with the commission after winning a grant under their third Film Empowerment Cycle. This is among their initiatives that are meant to support creatives in the filmmaking industry. The initiative has been in place since 2020 and happens annually. Application calls are always posted on their official social media pages.

Any advice to an aspiring filmmaker?

Any aspiring filmmaker out there needs to start creating films from whatever resources they have at the moment. They should not wait for opportunities to knock or blame the lack of resources to create. Start from where you are . The universe will adjust and make a path for you. A rolling stone gathers no mass.

What would you tell Brian Wekesa?

To keep creating; more stories need to be told. This is just the beginning of a vibrant filmmaking career.

”It is a rare combination of talents,” is how Brian perceives the lead role in Jay as the requirement was strong acting skills as well as proficiency in basketball. Brian shares strongly that JAY is his film and as he put it ”child project” going ahead to take charge in ensuring its success. JAY is yet to be distributed online due to pending planned screenings.

To be Continued…..