Mental health counts

There are two sides the to the tragedy of that of Zenobia Seas, and worse, her daughter whose life was snuffed out a few days before her third birthday.

There are those who say that she would have deserved the death penalty for killing her own child, especially through the act of suffocation, which takes a while and is a direct contact murder. Others are more forgiving, in particular because she have such a heartfelt guilty plea in court while unable to control her crying.

On Friday morning, she was sentenced to an effective 25 years in prison, a sentence handed down by seasoned High Court judge, Christie Liebenberg.

It is a tragedy. That is undeniable. However, it is a tragedy that could have been avoided.

Namibians do not take mental health issues into account and neither do we consider them serious. There would certainly have been a downward spiral for Seas, which essentially, should have been noticed by those nearest and dearest to her.

Seas alleged abuse from Ava’s father in her guilty plea. If so, why was this abuse allowed to continue? What hand did Seas have in staying in the relationship? She told the court her father did not approve but could not stop her.

All in all, Seas was left with her reality of her life and with her responses to her particular challenges. While we can imagine that no one could have seen it coming, there should be better support for those suffering with mental health issues or those under severe duress. Seas’ diary entries alone, those she made after she killed her daughter, indicate a woman entirely on the edge.

And if it were so that she felt she could not go to family or friends, where could she have turned?

Namibians do not lead cushy lives … as they say, the struggle is real and hence, we need to be far more aware of mental health issues and if we feel that a friend, family member of colleague is in such a place, we need to take action.