The national government is once again being challenged to invest more in mental health to disentangle Kenyans going through the “serious health problem”.
The recent growing figures of Kenyans showing all signs of mental health challenges should worry both the national and county governments.
Addressing a local forum aimed at discussing mental health phenomenon in Utange, Kisauni Subcounty, Nongovernmental lobby, Mashinani Watch Organisation Executive Director, Moffat Mutero said the mental health related cases have been on the rise, however, without any forthcoming help from either the county or national government.
“We have seen suicidal cases within our communities, marriage breakups, married couples killing each other and children living on the streets. Most of these cases are triggered by mental health challenges,” said Mutero.
He added that the current economic crisis in the country has hugely contributed to such mental health challenges among Kenyans.
“When companies are closing, and there is mass layoffs. When no new industries coming up and many Kenyans are left jobless as it is the situation at hand, then we are sitting on a ticking time bomb,” noted Mr Mutero.
He called for a clear economic stability strategy and mental health policy to tame the current situation before it gets out of hand.
The Mashinani Watch Organisation Executive Director also urged the government to fuse the Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) with mental health counselors so that there is a continuous counselling and psychosocial support for many Kenyans suffering in silence.
“The government is just reluctant in taking the first step in addressing mental health challenges in the country. By empowering counselors and facilitate them to undertake door to door Psychosocial support to Kenyans, this challenge will be addressed,” added Mutero.
The human and community activist is however urging locals to open up to their close family members, friends or even religious leaders so that they are assisted psychologically to avert ugly incidents like individuals taking their own lives.
