Kenyan parents, teachers, and caregivers have been urged to pay closer attention to children’s emotional well-being, with behavioral changes often serving as early warning signs of mental distress.
In a press statement on Tuesday after the launch of the Africa-wide campaign “The Child Behind the Smile: Every Behaviour Has a Story,” SereniMind Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ridwan Oyenuga said children often communicate emotional struggles through their behaviour rather than words.
SereniMind, a Nigerian youth well-being and mental health platform, also announced plans to launch a year-round series of monthly Africa-wide campaigns aimed at addressing some of the most pressing well-being challenges affecting young people across the continent
According to Oyenuga, withdrawal, aggression, poor concentration, and social isolation should not be dismissed as disciplinary problems but recognized as possible indicators of fear, anxiety, grief, or emotional distress.
“Children do not always have the words to explain what they are going through. Adults must learn to observe, listen, and respond with understanding rather than punishment,” Oyenuga said.
The campaign is being implemented across 14 African countries to promote awareness of child mental health and encourage families, schools, and communities to create supportive environments for young people.
Oyenuga said the initiative was particularly relevant to Kenya, where mental health challenges continue to grow.
The Ministry of Health data estimates that one in 10 Kenyans lives with a mental disorder, while the country has fewer than 100 psychiatrists serving a population of more than 55 million people, limiting access to specialized care, especially for children and adolescents.
He observed that while Kenyan families place great emphasis on academic achievement, equal attention should be given to children’s emotional development.
“A child who cannot process grief, fear, or insecurity is unlikely to perform to their full potential in school, regardless of the quality of teaching,” he said.
According to the World Health Organization, one in seven adolescents aged between 10 and 19 years experiences a mental health condition globally, while sub-Saharan Africa faces one of the widest treatment gaps for mental health services.
To help bridge the shortage of mental health professionals, Oyenuga said SereniMind developed an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot that offers young people self-help resources, emotional support, and referrals to qualified therapists. Since its launch in 2024, the platform has reached more than 300,000 users across Africa.
He emphasized that while technology cannot replace professional care or family support, it can provide timely assistance where mental health services are inaccessible.
Oyenuga called on the Kenyan government, schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations to work together to make child emotional well-being a national priority.
“Behind every child’s behaviour is a story. Kenya’s children deserve adults who are equipped to hear it,” he said.
Mental health remains a major concern among Kenya’s young population, prompting the government to implement the Kenya Mental Health Policy 2015–2030.
The policy aims to reduce the burden of mental illness by recognizing mental health as an integral part of the well-being of children and young people.
It also seeks to strengthen mental health services, promote early identification and intervention, and reform mental healthcare practices to ensure timely access to treatment and support across the country.
For SereniMind, this is the beginning of a wider movement. A movement to make youth well-being visible. A movement to ensure African children and young people are not only educated, connected, and ambitious, but also emotionally supported. A movement to place mental health, well-being, and human dignity at the center of Africa’s development future.
By Wangari Ndirangu
