Mental health advocates have urged the government to enhance funding towards creating awareness to ensure vulnerable communities can access counselling and other essential support services aimed at safeguarding their well-being.
The Ministry of Health recently formed an Advisory Committee chaired by the Director General for Health, Dr Patrick Amoth, to oversee Kenya’s first National Mental Health Survey. The study will provide the country’s first comprehensive data on mental health conditions.
Bradley Ouna, Coordinator of Coast Social Justice Travelling Theatre (CSJTT), said they brought together Right Activists to mark World Mental Health Day and to discuss some of the community interventions, as most of them suffer in silence in line with this year’s theme, ‘Access to Service: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies’.
He lamented that the government has not prioritised mental health, leaving many Kenyans suffering in silence with no clear path to assistance.
“If you look at the country’s budget, there is no single Financial Year that funds have been allocated for mental health. That is the genesis of conflicts, injuries, theft and death because of mental health,” he stated.
He noted that the government should allocate funds for mental health advocacy and treatment in the annual national budget, noting that factors such as unemployment among the youth, even after going through university education, and family and work-related stress exacerbate depression.
“As Right Activists, the torture that we go through, including kidnaps, arrests, rapes, physical assault and trumped-up charges, not only affects our mental wellbeing but our families too,” he explained.
Christine Kabuya, an Activist, underscored the importance of the mental dialogue, as those suffering in silence were able to open up and get counselling.
“I appeal to all Activists and all Gen-Zs to seek counselling and mental health talks and to have Psychologists who can assist you to overcome and accommodate your experiences in line of duty, life and day-to-day activities so as to have a safe community with sound mental health,” she encouraged.
She also advised men not to shy away from seeking mental health services because of fear of stigma, as they are leading in suicidal thoughts, and most suffer in silence.
“Before you’re a man, you’re first a human being. It is okay to cry, it is okay to share, and it is okay not to be okay. We are here to help you overcome and cope with the situation that you may be facing. We have Counsellors and Psychologists for free; just reach out so that we have a healthy community together.”
Hariet Muganda urged the community to seek services that will improve mental well-being. She noted that Ganjoni Health Facility offers free services.
“In our meeting, we realised almost all of us are suffering from issues that affect us. We had issues ranging from how we grew up, absent fathers, and sexual assault that were not addressed and remained with you, and after growing up, you project the anger onto your family,” she said, noting that there is help and there are people to take victims through the steps of healing.
By Sadik Hassan
