The Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) has joined the rest of the world in marking World Mental Health Day, calling for open conversations about mental health, especially among young people, and for more investment in services.
Speaking during the commemoration at Mama Ngina Waterfront, TUM’s Head of Mental Health and Guidance and Counselling, Dr Soud Tengah, said the university held the event a day before the October 10 global observance to raise awareness among students and the wider community.
“Many times people focus on physical health, but they forget about their mental health,” he said.
Dr Tengah said stigma remains a major barrier, with many people struggling in silence, noting this year’s theme, Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change, highlights people who are kept at home or are not taken to access services.
He cited World Health Organisation (WHO) figures showing that between 75 and 90 per cent of people with mental health conditions do not have access to care and that the few who do are mostly served by private facilities.
The Head of Mental Health said young people are among those most affected and that the university platform gives them a chance to speak openly about pressures such as relationships, academic demands and family expectations around exams.
“The ideal world we look forward to is one where young people can communicate freely and somebody is there to listen without judging them,” he said.
Dr Tengah pointed to substance use disorders, anxiety, depression and relationship challenges as some of the mental health concerns facing the country.
He also said some young people in workplaces have died by suicide and urged the public to support those who are struggling and to listen to them.
The medic called on the government to prioritise mental health, saying less than one per cent of the national budget is allocated to the sector.
He urged more funding for research so that the country can develop local solutions and interventions suited to its communities.
“We should not only import interventions from outside but also build on those we have from within,” he said.
He encouraged anyone struggling with mental health challenges to speak to a trusted friend or confidant or seek help from a psychologist, mental health expert or psychiatrist.
“You are not alone. Come forward and get help today, not tomorrow,” he said.
By Joan Kinuthia
