Depression, clinically referred to as major depressive disorder (MDD), is a prevalent and serious mood disorder that affects more than 300 million people (~ 4% of the population) globally.

Depression is caused by a combination of biological, behavioral, psychological and environmental factors; individuals with a family history of depression, experiencing a traumatic life event, or living with a chronic illness are at increased risk. 

Depression, anxiety disorders, and elevated stress levels are the most common, sometimes leading to suicide attempts (Farzaei et al., 2016). Uganda is ranked among the top six countries in Africa in rates of depressive disorders (4.6%; Miller etal., 2020), while 2.9% live with anxiety disorders (WHO, 2017). About 5.1% offemales and 3.6% of males are affected. With these alarming statistics,preachers like Prophet Brian Kagyezi have come out to finally speak up on the issues of depression and mental health. 

Prophet Brian Kagyezi, in a Sunday service on 3^rd July 2022, was quoted saying that depression is a demonic spirit because it makes one unable to handle responsibility. He went on to say that a mature person is balanced in understanding and therefore has no moments of breaking down.

This was as though to say that depression is coupled with immaturity and a fear of or inability to handle day-to-day responsibilities. This is not about being unkind and unserious but it is the people making it a serious issue. We as a nation can choose to put these issues under a spotlight or deal with them by the Word of God.

Just because nations are signing a bill to marry gay people, a whole nation signs that they[gay people] have rights and they should be married, it does not make it right in the presence of God!

“So just because the world is coming with full force on this issue of depression and the problems associated with it, like mental health, whether they are coming with it strongly and making great awareness of them, it does not make it right, as a preacher, I have to tell you, those are demonic spirits of men who cannot hold the glory of God,” he added. 

If you are depressed because your father and mother divorced, you are unwise. The Bible says that God is the comforter of men, men are not comforted because their parents are together, God is the comforter of men. If you are depressed becauseyour parents died, the bible says that God is the father of the fatherless, Heis the defender of the orphans. So, it is pride to fail to hold your depression! 

His teaching was an effort to direct believers towards the word of God which is able to give solutions to all life’s problems.

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