This archive report was first published on 28 June 2020.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ravage the country, a team of dedicated priests, nuns, and psychologists in Nyeri is working around the clock to respond to distress calls from people in need of mental support.
Established in April, the Good Shepherd Call Centre has received over 2,000 calls, with the majority coming from urban areas. The team, comprising 30 priests and 12 psychologists, works in shifts to cater to the needs of hundreds of people facing mental breakdowns.
According to the team's coordinator, Father Stephen Gitonga, the call centre was set up by Nyeri Archdiocese Bishop Anthony Muheria to offer psychological and spiritual support. The team meets twice a week to review cases, with serious ones being taken up by the psychologists.
One such case is that of a young graduate who was contemplating suicide after being unable to secure employment. Esther Gichuki, a psychologist, has had five counselling sessions with the young man, who was already steeped in drugs and alcohol by the time the team picked up the case.
Another case involves a matatu tout who lost his job due to the pandemic. The team is working to help him renegotiate his life and explore alternatives to earn a living.
Distress calls from depressed people have been on the rise since the pandemic set in, with the priests and nuns in the group saying that they are seeing a growing number of cases of fathers, uncles, and brothers defiling young girls.
The call centre's database has a growing list of girls who have sent out distress calls after being defiled at home. The team is referring such cases to the police through their legal office for further action.
As the team continues to work tirelessly to save souls in distress, they urge those in need of mental support to reach out to them through their number, 0800723555.
