This World Mental Health Day, the message is clear: mental health is a universal human right. In 2025, the World Health Organisation is spotlighting those caught in humanitarian emergencies from climate shocks and conflict to digital exclusion and displacement.
At Khusoko, we have long covered mental health as a cornerstone of Kenya’s development. From workplace wellness and youth resilience to digital inclusion and survivor-centred advocacy, we’ve seen how mental well-being shapes productivity, innovation, and dignity.
But what happens when a crisis hits?
Mental Health in Humanitarian Emergencies
According to the WHO, one in five people affected by humanitarian emergencies will experience a mental health condition. That’s not just a statistic.
Whether it’s floods in Budalangi, conflict in Sudan, or digital shutdowns that isolate communities, the emotional toll is real. Mental health support isn’t a luxury. It is lifesaving. It helps people cope, heal, and rebuild not just as individuals, but as families and communities.
Kenya’s Mental Health Landscape: What the Taskforce Found
Kenya’s 2020 Taskforce on Mental Health laid bare the urgency:
- “Mental health and wellbeing are foundational to national development, yet remain underfunded and misunderstood.”
- Depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders are rising, especially among youth, women, and displaced populations.
- Special populations, including persons with disabilities, survivors of gender-based violence, and those in informal settlements, face compounded risks and limited access to care.
- Social determinants like poverty, unemployment, and trauma are deeply linked to mental illness.
- Stigma remains a major barrier: “Mental illness is still viewed as a curse or weakness, leading to silence and suffering.”
Decentralising Mental Health: A Step Toward Inclusion
In a major policy shift, Kenya’s government has announced plans to decentralise mental health services to the county levels. The goal? Strengthen access, inclusion, and community-based care.
According to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, this move will “ensure that mental health services are available and accessible to all Kenyans, regardless of their location.” It’s a direct response to the gaps identified in the Taskforce report and aligns with WHO’s call for culturally relevant, locally delivered care.
“Guided by the Mental Health Act, 2023 and the Kenya Mental Health Policy, the Ministry of Health continues to reform how mental health is perceived, financed and delivered, anchoring it firmly within Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as a fundamental human right that guarantees dignity, access and protection for all.”
Why Digital Rights Matter
KICTANet, one of Kenya’s leading digital policy voices, is pushing for mental health to be recognised as a digital rights issue. In times of crisis, online spaces can either be lifelines or sources of harm. From cyberbullying and misinformation to gender-based violence, the digital world must be made safe for mental well-being.
What Kenya Can Do
- Invest in community-based mental health support, especially in disaster-prone areas.
- Protect digital spaces from abuse, exclusion, and misinformation.
- Train frontline responders—from teachers to health workers—to spot and support mental distress.
- Amplify survivor voices in policy and media spaces.
- Implement the Taskforce’s recommendations, including the establishment of a Mental Health Commission and integration of mental health into primary care.
From Awareness to Action
Mental health isn’t just a health issue. It’s a human rights issue. In Kenya, where climate shocks, economic pressures, and digital divides collide, we must act now.
As we mark #WorldMentalHealthDay, let’s commit to building a Kenya where mental health is protected, valued, and accessible even in the toughest times.
