This archive report was first published on 9 July 2019.
Kenya's mental health crisis is a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode due to the government's inaction and the public's ignorance about the extent of the problem.
Many Kenyans believe that mental health disorders are a preserve of the poor, but the reality is that even 'big' people are affected. Mental health disorders don't affect cognitive ability, but they can drastically alter one's day-to-day functioning, leading to negative consequences like suicides and homicides.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Kenya has a shortage of mental health professionals, with only 55-70 psychiatrists, 35 clinical psychologists, and 500 psychiatric nurses. Only half of these professionals work in mental health, which receives a mere 0.05 per cent of the national health budget.
Developed countries like the US and Britain have a high level of mental health disorders, often linked to prescription opioids and naturally derived narcotics. In Kenya, social factors are the primary trigger for mental health disorders.
It's a shame that Kenyans don't use public tragedies to have a productive debate about necessary interventions. When someone expresses a desire to kill themselves, it's often taken as a joke, and if their attempt is unsuccessful, they end up in prison instead of a mental health institution.
Prof Makau Mutua was right when he stated that the rampant suicides require an open discussion about the status of mental illness in the country. The relevant health professionals should be involved in mitigating the catastrophe.
Unlike Kenya, developed countries recognize the importance of sound mental health for a productive citizenry. They consistently inject resources and personnel to address it. We need the training of personnel, sensitization of citizens, and rehabilitation centers throughout the country where proper diagnoses can be done and proper treatment given.
A country of 50 million people can comfortably afford at least three certified psychiatrists per county with a mental health counselor in every high school. The government should also consider embracing professionals willing to give back to society by making psychiatry practice favorable in the country.
A holistic approach by all stakeholders is required in addressing mental health issues. Sound policies, through service design and awareness, would be the clearest roadmap yet for effective mental health intervention.
— Dr. Tom Mogondo, a psychiatric medical consultant in Casper, Wyoming, USA, and Lister Nyaringo, the president of the Kenya Patriotic Movement, a diaspora lobby in the USA.
