The April edition of Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International – features an interview with Tunmise Kuku, a Nigerian radio broadcaster and mental health advocate who has been open about her diagnosis of Type II Bipolar Affective Disorder. Three years ago, she took a deliberate career break to write Living Mindfully: A Journey of Being, a memoir that draws from her experiences and stories. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Dami Ajayi: Congratulations Tunmise on your book. I understand you took a career break from radio to write it. I was struck by its easy and direct approach to defining positivity, grounding techniques and mindfulness from your personal experiences. How was that journey?

Tunmise: Being positive has always been the number 1 tool in my survival toolbox…Broadcast journalism just seemed the one place I could pass on that torch. I tell you, while most of my presentations were extemporaneous, my opening and closing bits were definitely written…I wanted that one person listening to feel like they were beside me, and I could feel them, and they knew someone heard them…

D: Many listeners were supported by your openness about your diagnosis; how have you navigated your absence from radio?

T: I continue to write on my social media handles (https://www.facebook.com/tunmise.kuku, https://www.instagram.com/tunmiseokuku/) With/in the same tone/spirit. Funny, you should ask. One person said this last week and thanked me for continuing though I was no longer on air.

D: Interesting, social media and podcasting are replacing radio and television but not without concerns about adverse effects on mental health; how do you moderate this?

T: Oh, I am very aware of that. And trust me, I am very reticent. But we can’t throw away the baby and the bath water. Traditional radio and television is going nowhere. I tag my posts #diaryofabipolargirl to bring awareness, and then when the time is right, my years in broadcast journalism will be put to good use in the podcast world.

D: Will your podcast deal with mental health and healing as well?

T: Yes. It will be called Mindfully with Tunmise.

D: In Nigeria, people with mental illness often resort to self-help. Tell me about your journey to seeking help and how that has influenced your advocacy and awareness.

T: I am blessed to have good health insurance from my husband’s employer. And the hospital was very quick to pick up on anomalies in my medical history /records. This and my need to understand what was happening to me and constantly engaging my doctors. Most Nigerians think their doctors don’t want to listen to them. I am not saying that this is totally wrong. But I do know that 80% of doctors appreciate patients who engage them. Because it helps to get a diagnosis faster and a treatment plan easier. Also, the silent culture here is the most effective weapon against mental health in Nigeria and what feeds stigma. Visiting the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba and discovering its amenity clinic, I understood there was help for those seeking it. I had a platform at the time, and I used it to create that awareness to signpost people to the help they needed.  

Read more about Tunmise’s life, advocacy and book here and here.

Welcome to Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International. Launched in March 2022, this new blog aims to highlight international art and artists, particularly from low-and-middle-income countries, with a focus on mental health. We welcome submissions for consideration, such as, comments on artwork, visual arts, literature, drama, films, podcasts, and videos. Do have a look at the instructions for blog authors for details on how to submit. General enquiries about the blog: BJPInternational@rcpsych.ac.uk

Professor David Skuse, Editor-in-Chief, BJPsych International