Understanding Anxiety & Depression: Signs, Support, and Self-Help

On 13th November, Elites Buddy Group shaped Roza Dymz into a soft-landing. The evening’s theme, “Understanding Anxiety & Depression: Signs, Support and Self-Help”, demanded tenderness, and the audience responded with quiet attention.
The panel brought together voices that spanned the spectrum of mental health expertise. Nanunja Sarah and Atatukwatsya Vera, both advocates who have dedicated themselves to raising awareness about mental health in Uganda, shared deeply personal insights on recognizing the subtle signs of anxiety and depression; not just for oneself, but for friends, family, and colleagues. Mark Edward Madaba, a clinical psychologist, offered practical tools and frameworks, translating clinical concepts into advice anyone could apply. Wonder JR, a mental health advocate known for connecting with young people through storytelling and dialogue, reminded the audience that support is not always formal therapy. It can be listening, validating, and creating safe spaces.

Moderating the discussion, Cleopatra Abikiira navigated the conversation with warmth and clarity, ensuring each panelist’s expertise illuminated the topic. The panel didn’t lecture; they opened doors. They spoke about mental health as something lived, not studied. Anxiety was described as the mind’s alarm system stuck in overdrive. Depression, as the slow dimming of color from everyday life. 

What made the session powerful was how ordinary the examples were. A student unable to get out of bed in the morning. A young professional hiding panic behind productivity. A friend who disappears from social circles not out of disinterest, but exhaustion. Suddenly, mental health wasn’t a distant concept; it was a mirror.

The evening left everyone with a deeper understanding that emotional struggles are not a sign of weakness, but an invitation to pay attention to ourselves and to each other. And the lesson that lingered was simple: healing happens faster in communities that choose compassion.