Blessing Lister Katsaura is a Zimbabwean author and mental health advocate. He is the writer of poetry, prose and essays which often centre on mental wellbeing. Having been consumed by the grip of substance abuse and depression, he has made it his life’s work to share his lived experience without holding back. ^{*KM – Kudzai Mhangwa, BK – Blessing Katsaura}

KM: Please introduce yourself Blessing.

BK: My name is Blessing Lister Katsaura, a poet, writer, author, mental health and anti-drug advocate. An author of elegy, free verse, narrative and sonnet poetry and prose. I aim to turn my experience with the many troubles of our time into page turning, inspirational, educational, motivational and uplifting literary masterpieces.

KM: Had you always grown up knowing that you wanted to become a writer?

BK: Not in the slightest. Growing up I had numerous career paths I had sought to pursue, namely, law, business management and finance. Up until 2021, I had not considered writing as a profession. Initially I wrote as a form of therapy and as a hobby, but after sharing a few of my poems and writing I saw that they had the potential to touch lives.

KM: When did your creativity begin to show?

BK: I have always been someone with an interest in arts, but initially from childhood I was more drawn to drawing. My interest in literature began to manifest itself in late 2018 at the peak of my struggles with mental health and substance abuse. I isolated myself and spent much of my time immersed in books with my main areas being poetry and scripture.

KM: You went through a period of depression, substance abuse and insomnia. When did these show up and how did you make sense of them?

BK: Their root cause were mainly poor life choices which led me down a path of alcoholism and substance abuse. The relationship between substance abuse and mental health, one I have written extensively on is a close one, for when one begins to misuse substances, mental health challenges are often very close by.

KM: Out of these feelings and thoughts you produced the poetry collection “Anhedonia”. Was the process healing to produce this work?

BK: I would have to say “Anhedonia” which was written over a two year period set me well on my way to recovery. I had for a while failed to express and vocalise my negative emotions which had for a while been the source of a lot of pain. Writing and sharing the poetry that is contained within that anthology set me on the path to recovery.

KM: You also produced the poetry anthology “Conversations With Pigeon” would you tell us a bit more about the collection?

BK: “Conversations With Pigeon” is another collection of poetry on fervour and woe; love and the laments of both men and women when it breaks down. The first few poems document an expression of love by both the man and the woman, and then the book ends with poems about the negative emotions and regrets both felt after the relationship breaks down.

KM: You also have a collection of articles titled “BeGood Thoughts”. What do the articles speak on?

BK: “Be Good Thoughts” or “Ataraxia” is a collection of articles I have written on a topic which is very close to my heart, and that is mental health. They touch on everything from what mental health is, the types of mental health disorders and the stigma surrounding mental health, illnesses and suicide.

KM: What do you hope people will take from your work?

BK: My poetry and articles are for the purpose of creating awareness of all things mental health as well as inspiring people by showing that it is possible to overcome challenges, find purpose and navigate the ups and downs of life.

KM: What is your advice to aspiring authors?

BK: Believe in your why. Trust the process and in life we ought to do something worth writing about and as an author to write something worth reading.

KM: What are your final words for us?

BK: Mental health disorders should not be taken lightly and are a major pandemic that is ravaging society. Sufferers of mental health disorders ought to be treated with care and as families and communities we need to be watchful for any signs of mental health illness for some are very subtle.

Always remember, suicide is a painful and permanent solution to a temporary problem. So in parting, in whatever you do, above all else “Be Good”. Katsaura regularly keep his followers posted on his Facebook page and Instagram. His books are available on both e-book and hard copies; contact the author for copies