Kisumu County has become the first county in Kenya to officially launch a Workplace Mental Health and Wellness Policy, in a move aimed at strengthening access to mental health services and promoting the wellbeing of workers.
The policy was launched during a two-day Regional Mental Health Conference in Kisumu, bringing together health experts, mental health advocates, government representatives and organisations working to improve mental wellbeing.
Speaking during the conference, Kisumu County Director of Public Health and Sanitation Fredrick Oluoch said the policy would provide a framework for counselling, mental health screening, treatment and rehabilitation of affected individuals.
Oluoch said the county government was committed to allocating resources to ensure the policy is fully implemented.
“The policy will ensure measures are put in place to offer counselling, mental health screening, rehabilitation and treatment access to people affected. We are very happy about the policy we launched today, and we are looking forward to financing it to ensure full implementation of the policy,” Oluoch said.
He identified drug and substance abuse, family conflicts, economic challenges, workplace burnout, heavy workloads and youth unemployment as some of the major factors contributing to mental health challenges.
Oluoch said approximately 36 per cent of healthcare workers were experiencing mental health disorders, compared with an estimated 25 per cent of the general population.
“Around 36 per cent of healthcare workers are having mental health disorders, while in the general public about 25 per cent are suffering from mental health challenges. Among public health workers, some of the factors contributing to mental health problems include burnout, high workload, stress, unemployment among young people, economic issues, family conflicts and drug addiction,” he said.
Dr Mercy Karanja, a psychiatrist and head of the Division of Mental Health at the Ministry of Health, said mental health had become a major public health concern in Kenya.
Karanja said available studies indicate that one in every four Kenyans experiences a mental health condition at some point in their lives.
She described the first regional mental health conference in Kisumu as timely, saying it placed the voices and experiences of people living with mental health challenges at the centre of discussions on possible interventions.
“This is the regional mental health conference bringing the voice of mental health to the ground, to the people where it is most needed. We are focusing on the voices of people who have already experienced mental health challenges because they can tell us what interventions are working and what can improve the mental wellbeing of fellow Kenyans,” Karanja said.
She urged parents, teachers and other stakeholders to work together to monitor and support the mental wellbeing of young people.
According to Karanja, many mental health conditions begin between the ages of 15 and 25, making early intervention, prevention and resilience-building critical.
“Mental health is becoming a major public concern. We have seen in many studies that one in every four Kenyans at some point in life experiences mental health challenges, and it is our duty to ensure they enjoy better mental health,” she said.
“Most mental health conditions actually begin between the ages of 15 and 25 and are often recognised when it is too late. We therefore need to focus on preventive measures and resilience, ensuring that stable mental health is built from an early age. We need to work with teachers and parents to ensure better mental wellbeing among our youth because they are the future.”
The conference, themed “Voice of Experience, Empowering Healing,” was hosted by Tinada Youth Action Africa and brought together various organisations united by a common goal of creating awareness and improving access to mental health services.
Participants also called on the government to increase funding for mental health programmes and support the work of mental health champions across the country
