This archive report was first published on 28 June 2020.
As the country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number of teachers are seeking mental health support, with a recent report revealing a sharp increase in cases of depression.
According to a report by Minet Kenya Insurance, which was contracted by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), 400 teachers sought psychological support in April alone, with the majority citing stress and anxiety as their main concerns.
The report highlights the struggles faced by Kenyan educators, with the number of cases of depression rising sharply in the last three months. In Bungoma County, 28 teachers complained of stress, while in Nairobi, 24 teachers said they were depressed.
Majority of the patients were male, with 54% seeking support, while 29% were female, and 17% were under the unknown category. The report also shows that the main nature of the mental health concern was stress and anxiety.
Interestingly, the number of both inpatient and outpatient claims tripled during the first quarter of 2020 as compared to the last quarter of 2019. Teachers in large numbers also called to seek overseas treatment, with cancer and heart disease leading among their health concerns besides depression.
As the situation among teachers continues to deteriorate, the question remains: Could the situation among teachers in private schools and those employed by Board of Management be worse due to delayed salaries or no salaries at all?
