Letter from America: David Karungu’s path through depression and alcoholism

The American dream had come true for David Karungu, who had conquered financial success in the ‘land of opportunities’.

At 40 years, Karungu felt he had achieved everything he had set out to, until a painful divorce came on the way.

"I started drinking in my mid-forties. Before that, I would only have a beer or wine socially. The divorce is when it really started,” Karungu recalled acknowledging the influence of negative company during the said period.

Desperate for a better life, Karungu made a decision not to die in America. He packed his bags and returned to Kenya, his homeland.  Now two years sober, he reflects on a life marked by both triumph and profound struggle with mental health and alcoholism.

Karungu's battle with depression began in his teens, with episodes at 14 and 22, culminating in a suicide attempt.  Even at his peak, the depression persisted but was masked with immense success.

"I defined success as being able to do what you wanted with your life. For me, it was money. I would buy houses and planes to make myself feel good because I was working so hard to get more. My insecurities were tied to those things,” he said in a discussion with Dr. Frank Njenga, consultant psychiatrist and chairperson of Chiromo Hospital Group.

"When you see someone drinking heavily, it's because they want to die. They don't care about their job, family, or anything. Karungu's own experience echoes this. When I walked into Chiromo Hospital, I had decided to live," he stated.

His turning point was during a business meeting at the Muthaiga Country Club, where a colleague witnessing Karungu's deteriorating condition, broke down in tears.

"David, you are dying, and nobody is telling you about it," she cried, before immediately connecting him with Dr. Njenga.  That day, Karungu committed to seeking help.

He found that Chiromo Hospital offered a stark contrast to his previous experiences with rehab facilities in the US.  He had been to rehab three times in the US, including one instance where he woke up in a room full of mattresses - a form of punishment.

 "Chiromo Hospital didn't feel like a jail, I felt very comfortable. The staff here talked to me like I was human, they didn't degrade me. Most people when they leave rehab in the USA are usually angry,” he shared.

In the session, Dr.Njenga offered insights on the destructive nature of heavy drinking and mental health.

Research indicates one in ten Kenyans experiences mental illness, with depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and schizophrenia being among the most common diagnoses.  Chiromo Hospital emphasizes patient-centered care.

 "Our principle is that the patient comes first and is at the center of everything that we do. We have over 210 staff members working to provide dignified and quality healthcare services by adhering to evidence-based medicine,’ he said.

The hospital prides itself in being a leading mental healthcare provider in the region, offering integrated programs designed for dignified recovery.

His drinking cost him friendships, but even that wasn't enough to stop him.  He now wishes he had prioritized his family more.

 "I worshipped money because it gave me access, I wish I had spent more time wanting to be a husband and father," he confessed.

Therapy has taught him valuable coping mechanisms.  "One thing I learned is when you wake up, just go outside," he shared.

"I have not had a drink for two years now," he said. "There are so many unnecessary deaths attached to alcoholism. Chiromo, for me, was the best place to get the help that I needed, and even the darkest days can become the light if you choose to live.”