This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
On July 9, 2020, a task force formed to assess the state of mental health in Kenya submitted its report to the Health Ministry, highlighting the need for urgent attention to the issue.
The report, handed over to Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, makes a series of recommendations, including declaring mental health a national disaster and setting up an independent Mental Health Commission to monitor Kenyans' happiness levels annually.
According to the report, one in ten Kenyans suffer from a common mental disorder, and the task force, chaired by Dr. Frank Njenga, a psychologist, wants the government to adequately fund mental health services to encourage Kenyans to open up and share their problems without worrying about the cost.
Dr. Njenga noted that people are often afraid to admit they suffer from depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and instead, stay with their disease at home due to shame.
Speaking while receiving the report, CS Kagwe acknowledged that mental health issues have spiked in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, with psychosocial issues compounding the problem.
