Over 90% Of Married Women Have Suffered Depression – TWIM, Calabar Based NGO

By Our Reporter

The founder of the non governmental organization “The Woman In Me” (TWIM), Onyebuchi Oyeniyi says depression in marriages is a common occurrence amongst women especially in the African setting due to the prominent role they play.

In an exclusive interview with CrossRiverWatch, Onyebuchi who is based in Calabar says she founded TWIM as a platform for women to learn from each other, issues that concern them.

“The idea to form TWIM came to me after presenting a speech on the topic ‘The Woman In Me’ in church and people began calling me The Woman In Me and I thought to myself, why not have an organization, a sort of platform where women really get to learn more about issues concerning them.

“TWIM is a platform for women to learn through seminars, conferences and shows. TWIM is a voice for women as we help them to preach the message why women should not suffer in silence.

“In TWIM, one of the objectives is to encourage African women to be industrial, not to suffer in silence and get depressed. Over 90 percent of married women were at one point depressed” Onyebuchi said.

She mentioned womanhood and motherhood as the inspiration behind the passion in TWIM describing her late mother as ‘my heroine’, she said “God took time to create a woman” and stressed that “the woman has something special”, quickly adding that “it cant be only men and it cant be only women so you cant discuss women issues without involving men. Though tidying the home is a tedious job, the woman also has a role to play in preventing negative incidents such as cultism, terrorism and others.”

In an advisory tone, the mother of three said “Every woman should see her fellow woman as a sister. We must learn to speak with one voice. Most African women have chosen the path of silence in marriages which often ends up very bad.

“The African woman should not be scared to speak out as you are the foundation of the home as whatever affects you, affects not only you but your family, the community, the nation and the African continent at large. Crying isn’t just enough.”