People Power series: Informed decision making and health literacy – Patrick Boruett, Kenya

Patrick was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2011 and describes himself as having lived in denial for 4 years. The diagnosis was a huge personal shock to him. Despite his background in pharmacy, his knowledge of mental health was limited. His health-care provider took very little time and attention to build Patrick’s understanding of his condition. After being hospitalized against his wishes in the very hospital where he worked as a pharmacist, he was firmly in denial about the validity of his diagnosis. This prevented him from playing an active role in its management.

For Patrick, a lack of understanding and internalized stigma at the point of his bipolar diagnosis in Kenya resulted in delayed acceptance of his condition. This subsequently impacted his well-being, relationships, the ability to trust health-care providers and the willingness to engage with his condition.

This article is an excerpt from the publication ‘People power - Perspectives from individuals with lived experience of noncommunicable diseases, mental health conditions and neurological conditions’, which includes six detailed case studies from 12 individuals with lived experience of diverse health conditions.

The case studies were developed using participatory research through focus groups with people with lived experience of NCDs, mental health conditions and neurological conditions.