Nollywood actress Chacha Eke Faani has become a proud advocate for mental illness following her personal battle with a mental disorder. The talented screen goddess has opened up about her experiences and is now dedicated to raising awareness about mental health.
During one of her outreach events for mental illness, Chacha shared her journey, recounting how she would often destroy properties in her house during loony episodes. She revealed that her husband and she had barely any belongings because of the damage she would cause.
Chacha narrated a particularly distressing incident that took place at Rit Hotel in Enugu, where she completely wrecked the entire hotel, reducing her family’s possessions to only what they were wearing. Sadly, two years later, she found herself repeating the same destructive behavior, leading to her hospitalization.
The hospital finally diagnosed Chacha with an inconsistent disorder and prescribed her medication. However, she struggled with taking the medication and would often flush the drugs down the toilet. She also expressed her frustration with her psychiatrist, whom she saw as her biggest nightmare at the time. The diagnosis brought both relief and pain as she realized the extent of her condition.
Chacha shared that her loony episodes had become a destructive habit, causing significant damage to her family’s belongings. She emphasized that the lack of understanding and untreated mental illness worsened her situation.
The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FDAH) admitted Chacha for treatment, gave her the official diagnosis, and helped her start her journey to recovery. Despite her initial resistance to medication, she eventually recognized its importance in managing her condition.
Today, Chacha Eke Faani has taken her personal experiences and transformed them into a platform for advocating mental illness awareness. By sharing her story, she hopes to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage others to seek help.
