Written By Henry Kimoli | |
A task force on mental health established in 2020 Kenya has a high burden of mental illness due to ill health, psychosocial disability and premature mortality with huge gaps in access to care.
The report highlighted a worrying trend that has led to the death of many Kenyans in the hands of those tasked to protect them.
Particularly shocking was the Kangemi shootout in which six people were killed when a police officer who killed his wife, and anyone who tried to stop him.
The team also found out that the majority of populations in Kenya associate mental health and mental illness with negative narratives leading to a low focus on the importance and benefits of mental health and well being.
The team also recommended that mental illness be declared a national emergency of epidemic proportions, to prioritize mental health as a priority public health and socioeconomic agenda.
It recommended that mental health be provided with adequate financing in line with international best practice
In Kenya, it is estimated that one in every 10 people suffer from a common mental disorder.
The number increases to one in every four people among patients attending routine outpatient services.
Leading psychiatrist Dr Frank Njenga says the mental illness problem is affecting the entire society and decried the decimal financial allocation towards the challenge.
“We currently allocate 15 cents towards the management of the menace but we are pushing a budget to ensure the money is increased to 250 per person per annum as required by the World Health Organization.
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