Introduction: WHO recommends person-centered and human rights-based approaches in mental health in the community, whereby action steps are presented for developing community mental health services that respect human rights and focus on recovery. It further promotes integration of mental health services for people living with HIV in order to maintain their wellbeing and improve their quality of...
Introduction: Pregnant and Postpartum Women living with HIV (PPWH) face elevated risks of mental health challenges, which can impede engagement in HIV care. This study assessed the acceptability, feasibility and fidelity of the WHO's Problem Management Plus (PM+) intervention adapted for PPWH, delivered in-person and via mobile phone, in a resource-limited setting.
Methods: This...
ABSTRACT
Background Caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) face multifaceted challenges, among which stigma —particularly affiliate stigma—is a major concern. Affiliate stigma occurs when caregivers internalize negative societal attitudes directed towards them due to their association with their children with developmental challenges. This internalized stigma may...
Background
Despite the high prevalence of postnatal depression (PND), many healthcare workers in primary health facilities, do not have sufficient training to recognize and manage this condition effectively. The detection rate for mental disorders among clinicians is critically low, with figures standing at just 4.1% in Kenya and 0% in Malawi. Both countries recognize the urgent need to...
Introduction.
Mental health is a critical national priority in Kenya, yet significant barriers persist. According to national data, 75% of individuals with mental health conditions do not receive treatment, largely due to stigma, lack of awareness, and insufficient resources. This treatment gap is exacerbated by a severe shortage of professionals, with a psychiatrist-to-population ratio...
Keywords: Sickle Cell Disease, youth mental health, resilience, psychosocial support, family-centered care
Authors: Ochieng A. Yvonne, MPS, Patel Sonali, Nazareth Ashita Pharm D, Njoki Mwangi, Rono Wilter, Liz Owino, Saina C. Daisy Mmed, Bonner J. Melanie Ph.D. Njuguna Festus Ph.D., & Puffer S. Eve Ph.D.
Contact information: yvonne.ochieng@duke.edu
Background: Adolescents and young...
Mental health remains a neglected priority in many low-income communities, where cultural stigma, misinformation, and lack of access to care hinder help-seeking behavior. In Mathare, one of Kenya’s largest informal settlements, individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, and trauma often remain untreated due to deeply rooted beliefs that mental illness is a spiritual or moral failure...
ABSTRACT
Community-Level Suicide Surveillance in Kenya: Descriptive Insight from the mDharura Application in Nakuru County (2020-2025).
Authors: Lydia Nyaga1, Joy K. Mugambi1, Ann Njeri1, Elizabeth Kiptoo1, Moses Obiero1
1Department of Health, Nakuru County
Background: Suicide is a rising public health concern in Kenya, especially among adolescents and young adults. In 2021, over 700,000...
Background: Postpartum depression affects approximately 30% of mothers in urban informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya, with adolescent mothers facing particularly high risks alongside compromised family functioning. Current evidence-based treatments like Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) have demonstrated effectiveness for postpartum depression in low- and middle-income countries and adolescent...
Authors: Ochwal, Victoria Akoth, Clement Otendo, Benjamin Mutuku, Stella Gitia, Stephen Mulupi
Despite the general consensus about the importance of Community Health Workers (CHWs) among the global health community, mental health policy interventions to recognize and support optimal delivery of community health services by CHWs are inadequate, especially in Lower- and Middle-Income...
The Mental Health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) was developed by the World Health Organization as a key technical tool for delivering evidence-based mental healthcare in non-specialized settings around the world. It requires contextualization and adaptation for local relevance, considering healthcare and resource contexts. However, evidence on adapting the child and...
Background
In Embakasi West’s informal settlements, baseline screening of 150 widows revealed 78% with moderate-to-severe depression (PHQ-9 ≥10; scale range 0–27) and 65% reporting high social isolation (UCLA Loneliness Scale ≥45). Cultural violence—property seizure and forced “widow cleansing”—combined with economic exclusion, intensifies post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal...
Introduction
For Kenya, prevalence estimates for pre- or postnatal depression range from 9 to 35%, with a wide spectrum of associated risk factors, spanning from unmet basic survival needs to social vulnerabilities. In the last three years, several cases of infanticide have received national attention. Whilst lack of material resources and social support may have contributed to each...
Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, a considerable proportion of young people experience an array of mental disorders but few seek facility-based care [1,2]. Innovative approaches for increasing youth access to mental health support are needed to improve their mental well being. We collected formative data from Kenyan youth in a rural community setting to inform future design of a digital...
INTRODUCTION
Mental health challenges among Kenyan youth have reached critical levels, with Kiambu County experiencing a notable rise in depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation. Persistent barriers such as limited access to care, stigma, low mental health literacy, and social isolation continue to hinder effective intervention. This study introduces a digital health solution aimed at...
EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND ITS LONG-TERM MENTAL HEALTH EFFECT IN KANGEMA CONSTITUENCY, MURANG’A COUNTY
Presenter: Susan Wambui Mukuna
Co-author(s): N/A
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Introduction
Long-term mental health problems are often caused by early childhood trauma with emotional, physical, sexual, and domestic violence. Such cases in Kangema Constituency of Murang’a County...
Introduction
In Kenya, mental illness affects about 25% of outpatients and 40% of inpatients, with psychosis impacting 1% of the general population. Despite policy provisions, current health information systems lack adequate tracking of mental health conditions and interventions. The Mental Health Taskforce recommended creating a dedicated mental health data system and conducting regular...
Background:
Ihururu Treatment and Rehabilitation Hospital is a 90-bed Level 4B specialised facility for male clients, established in August 2023 by the county government of Nyeri in response to rising cases of drug and substance abuse and limited access to affordable rehabilitation services. Located 9 kilometres from Nyeri Town, the hospital provides both chemical and non-chemical...
INTRODUCTION
Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, in collaboration with AMREF, proposed to start a program to provide a long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic known as Paliperidone palmitate to 50 patients with schizophrenia over a period of 18 months, as a response to the huge gap in management of patients suffering from Schizophrenia. This initiative aims to evaluate the...
Up to 20% of children and adolescents globally experience mental health disorders, yet in Kenya, over 75% lack access to care. Primary healthcare workers (HCWs) are key to bridging this gap, but limited training and resources hinder effective service delivery. The WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) includes a Child and Adolescent Mental and Behavioural...
Background
In 2024, the Amref Health Africa THRIVE project, in collaboration with the Nyeri County Department of Medical Services and Public Health, began implementing the Othaya Primary Care Network (PCN) with a strong focus on community engagement. Through dialogues, household visits, and outreach programs, communities voiced a clear need for accessible mental health services and...
Introduction
Kenya has undertaken major reforms to strengthen mental health services through integration into the primary healthcare (PHC) system. This transformation is supported by the Kenya Mental Health Policy 2015 to 2030 and a new financing architecture that includes the Social Health Authority (SHA), Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), Primary Health Care Fund (PHCF), and the Facility...
Introduction and Aim
Health system disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic, health workers’ strikes, political unrest, floods, disruptions in funding, and limited resources may significantly impact the mental health of health workers (HWs). In these situations, HWs may experience uncertainty regarding their roles and the safety of their work environments. The stigma surrounding mental...
Background
Adolescence (ages 10–19), as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a critical
developmental stage marked by identity formation, heightened emotional sensitivity, and
increased vulnerability to mental health conditions. Globally, mental health disorders
contribute to 16% of the burden of disease among adolescents, with depression ranked as the
fourth leading cause...
Background: Young people aged 15–29 experience a substantial mental health burden, with 23.7–25.6% of years lived with disability in this age group attributable to mental disorders. In Kenya, mental disorders are a leading cause of disability in young people, accounting for 182,039 disability-adjusted life years in those aged 15–24 years in 2019. ~37% of this burden was due to major...
Background: Mental health is a critical yet frequently neglected aspect of HIV care, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Persons living with HIV (PLHIV) experience higher levels of exposure and vulnerability to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and trauma, which negatively impact treatment adherence, retention in care, and viral suppression (WHO, 2022). Limited...
Introduction
Teenage girls in Kibera Slums face several challenges that threaten both their reproductive and mental health. Poverty, gender inequality, and a lack of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services contribute to high rates of teenage pregnancy and HIV infection. These adversities are compounded by mental health stressors such as stigma, trauma, anxiety, and...
Background
Mental health disorders among adolescents and youth in Kenya are a growing public health concern, often overlooked in mainstream health programming. Despite the increasing visibility of depression, anxiety, and trauma-related conditions, young people—especially those in urban informal settlements—face persistent barriers to accessing mental health care. These include stigma,...
Background
The Kenya Finance Bill of 2024 led to country-wide protests and socio-political unrest that was characterized by police excesses, enforced disappearances, loss of life, looting of businesses, and damage to property. The protests, which started in Nairobi, quickly escalated to other parts of the country after the parliament's finance committee remained adamant on passing the...
Background and Objectives:
Despite a higher burden of mental health problems, especially depression and anxiety among perinatal mothers in Kenya, access to care remains fragmented and insufficient due to inadequate funding, lack of trained mental health workers at the primary health care level, and community-level stigma. To address this urgent gap, HealthRight Kenya implemented a...
Background
Depression is a leading mental health concern globally, particularly among disproportionately affected marginalized groups. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth experience elevated rates of mental health challenges, including anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders, compared to their heterosexual peers due to factors such as discrimination, stigma, and minority...
Background: Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in Kenya continually face challenging situations ranging from health system shortfalls to exposure to traumatic experiences in the community. This places them at risk of experiencing mental health problems. However, there is a dearth of literature exploring the mental well-being of CHPs. This study aimed to explore the mental health problems CHPs...
Background
In Africa, families of children with developmental disorders/disabilities (DDs) including autism experience multiple barriers to accessing appropriate care and services. These include lack of awareness, stigma and exclusion, high cost of care, and long travel to access services. Primary healthcare (PHC) facilities lack available services and health personnel have limited capacity...
Introduction:
Workplace mental well-being is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in overall employee productivity and satisfaction. However despite the growing awareness, there are some organizations that still lack comprehensive policies and support systems that foster mental health. As an organization, we aim to assess the current state of workplace mental well-being across...
Introduction:
Adolescents in Kenya face an escalating mental health crisis, with up to 40% experiencing psychological distress. In rural and boarding school settings, access to mental health support remains limited due to stigma, low availability of trained personnel, and a lack of culturally relevant interventions. Neurodivergent students are particularly marginalized within mainstream...
Strengthening Mental Health Systems: The Critical Role of Psychologists in a Multidisciplinary Psychiatry Clinic
Ms Ivy Jepkemoi¹, Ms Diana Walegwa¹, Dr Peris Wambui¹, Dr Victoria Wamukhoma¹, & Dr Julius Ogato¹
¹Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
Corresponding author: Ivy Jepkemoi, Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
Email:...
Background
Millions of children in Africa have developmental disorders/disabilities (DDs), with the majority presenting with behaviour and communication problems. Available interventions are predominantly from high-income settings, resource-intensive, and mostly delivered by specialists posing challenges for cross-cultural adaptation. The WHO Caregiver Skills Training (CST) pilot in Kenya...
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Youth with a diagnosis of Conduct disorder present the highest level of impairment and distress in all the living domains when compared with youths with other mental issues. Studies in Kenya have shown a high prevalence rate of Conduct disorder among juvenile delinquents and among adolescents. However, such prevalence has not been comprehensively examined when linked to...
Introduction:
This presentation aims to examine the mental health and integration challenges facing Generation Z (born 1997–2012) in the workplace, and to offer practical, science-informed solutions for creating supportive environments that promote wellbeing and productivity across sectors. It explores how organizations can proactively adapt to the expectations, vulnerabilities, and...
In the heart of Kenya's dynamic educational landscape lies an often-overlooked struggle—mental wellness among students. Behind the pursuit of academic excellence and career aspirations, many learners face silent battles with anxiety, depression, and stress, exacerbated by societal stigma and limited support systems. These hidden struggles by students within educational institutions not only...
Background:
Mental disorders are the world’s leading cause of youth disability and early death. Kenya’s youth are no exception: a recent Kenyan government task force called mental health a “ticking time bomb,” yet found no widely-available mental health prevention and promotion services in Kenya. Youth First provides a solution as one of the first mental health prevention and promotion...
Strengthening Mental Health Systems / Community Approaches
Background:
Community-led health clinics have played a critical role in providing stigma-free, holistic care to key populations (KPs) and people living with HIV (PLHIV) across Kenya. However, recent reductions in donor funding have led to the closure of multiple KP-friendly facilities. This shift has not only disrupted essential...
Background
Adolescence (ages 10–19), as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a critical developmental stage marked by identity formation, heightened emotional sensitivity, and increased vulnerability to mental health conditions. Globally, mental health disorders contribute to 16% of the burden of disease among adolescents, with depression ranked as the fourth leading cause...
This study investigates the existing of workplace policies addressing perinatal loss in Kenya, focusing on the psychological and emotional impacts experienced by women following miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death. Utilizing a descriptive survey design, the research engaged 80 participants from various corporate institutions in Nairobi, including human resource managers and women who...
Background
Millions of children with developmental disorders/disabilities (DDs) live in low- and middle-income countries such as Kenya. Primary healthcare (PHC) facilities often lack adequate services and trained healthcare workers (HCW) to diagnose and manage DDs. Through SPARK (SupPorting African communities to increase the Resilience and mental health of Kids with developmental disorders...
Background
HCWs form the backbone of our health systems yet they face insidious unprecedented mental health challenges. In 2023, the Kenya Medical Association highlighted that responses from a SADPERSONS test for suicide assessment, administered in a random Continuous Medical Education forum in Kisumu, Kenya, revealed that 4 of the attending 52 HCWs reported experiencing suicidal thoughts....
Background:
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are vital in bridging informal and formal health systems, enhancing access to underserved populations. Despite their essential roles, they often contend with heavy workloads, limited structured support, and inconsistent compensation. While existing research has focused on their responsibilities, few studies have examined their lived experiences,...
Background: In Kenya, mentor mothers (MMs) are lay health workers with lived experience who provide psychosocial peer support to women newly diagnosed with HIV and may have the potential to be key contributors to the mental health workforce. Prior studies have documented the successful delivery of psychosocial interventions by lay health workers, including the World Health Organization...
Introduction:
Disrespect and abuse in maternity care settings are widespread and often normalized, fueled by systemic inequities, entrenched gender norms, and the chronic stress experienced by frontline healthcare providers. High workloads, limited institutional support, and emotionally demanding work environments contribute to provider burnout and bias, which in turn compromise the quality...
Introduction
In South Africa, it is estimated the 1 in 3 women experience a common mental health disorder in the perinatal period . Despite supportive national policy to integrate mental health into maternal care pathways, the wellbeing of mothers is often overlooked, particularly in rural mining communities where mothers face a confluence of socio-economic hardships, cultural pressures,...
