How research is shaping Kenya’s mental health future

Mental and substance use disorders are significant public health issues worldwide, linked to high levels of disability, morbidity, and mortality. Despite their increasing impact, mental health receives low priority in low- and middle-income countries like Kenya. Limited resources for prevention and treatment leave many individuals to suffer in silence. Globally, suicide makes up 1.4% of all deaths and is the 15th leading cause of death. However, in many rural areas of developing countries, reliable data on suicide and other mental health outcomes remain limited, even though suicide is a key indicator under the Sustainable Development Goals.

According to the World Health Organization (2022) and the Kenya Mental Health Policy (2015–2030), depression is the most commonly reported mental health condition in Kenya, affecting an estimated 4–10% of adults and ranking among the top causes of disability. Anxiety disorders often occur alongside depression, especially among youth and women facing economic and social stress. Substance use disorders, particularly involving alcohol and miraa (khat), are widespread among men and young adults. Severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders account for up to 25% of psychiatric admissions at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, while bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are increasingly reported in conflict-affected areas.

Stigma continues to be one of the main obstacles to mental health care in Kenya, causing widespread underreporting and low treatment rates. It is estimated that more than 75% of individuals experiencing mental health symptoms never get professional help. Cultural beliefs, discrimination, and social exclusion prevent open discussions about mental illness, often leading people to seek assistance from informal or religious sources. This results in delayed diagnosis and treatment, which worsens outcomes for many.

KEMRI’s mental health research has significantly influenced both national and county policies. Studies like “Suicide in a Rural Area of Coastal Kenya” and the EPInA Study, which examined ways to reduce the treatment gap for mental and neurological disorders, have provided essential data that inform the Kenya Mental Health Policy (2015–2030) and the National Mental Health Action Plan (2021–2025). At the county level, KEMRI–Wellcome, the Ministry of Health, and Kilifi County Government jointly developed and launched the Kilifi County Mental Health Action Plan (2023–2027), the first sub-national mental health plan in Kenya. The plan focuses on strengthening community-based care, training health workers, promoting awareness, and integrating services into primary healthcare.

Research shows that traditional and faith-based healing plays a central role in how many Kenyans understand and manage mental health. These healers provide culturally rooted explanations and emotional support, especially in areas where formal services are limited. Formal partnerships between traditional and biomedical systems could enhance referral pathways, facilitate early diagnosis, and support culturally sensitive counselling. This collaboration merges the trust and accessibility of traditional healers with the scientific knowledge of modern medicine. Researchers can further involve traditional healers in testing and validating herbal medicines, incorporating safe practices into health education and community disease-prevention efforts.

Access to mental health care is influenced by geography, infrastructure, and social attitudes. Kenya’s current strategy emphasizes Community Health Promoters (CHPs) the initial contact points for households in rural and underserved areas. Each CHP delivers preventive, promotive, and basic curative services to approximately 100 households within a Community Health Unit. The government’s 2023 initiative to professionalize and integrate 100,000 CHPs marks a milestone toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). With stipends, health insurance, and digital tools, CHPs now serve as trusted links between communities and health facilities making care more accessible, data-driven, and responsive to local needs.

Research institutions in Kenya continue to influence the country’s mental health response by providing the evidence needed for effective policy and intervention development. Epidemiological and clinical studies help identify the burden, risk factors, and patterns of conditions such as depression, substance use, and suicide. These findings have guided community-based awareness programmes, training for non-specialist providers, and policy frameworks at both the national and county levels. By turning research into practice, these institutions ensure that Kenya’s mental health strategies are evidence-based, culturally suitable, and sustainable.

Key policy recommendations for the government and partners include increasing financing for mental health to meet the WHO-recommended 5% of the national health budget, enabling full implementation of the Kenya Mental Health Policy and Action Plan, integrating mental health services into all levels of primary care across all counties, establishing functional county mental health units with adequate staffing and resources, expanding the mental health workforce by training more psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and community health workers, and engaging community and faith leaders to reduce stigma and encourage early help-seeking.

Kenya is well-positioned to make significant progress in mental health awareness and care in the next decade. Supportive policies such as the Mental Health (Amendment) Act, 2022, and the Kenya Mental Health Policy (2015–2030) lay a strong foundation for change. With the focus shifting from policy to action, services are now being brought closer to communities through primary care integration and county-level implementation. However, serious challenges remain, including a severe shortage of professionals and low budget allocations. Continued investment in workforce development, awareness campaigns, and stigma reduction will be essential for lasting progress.

Kenya’s genuine progress depends on ongoing commitment to aligning well-designed policies with sufficient resources, coordination, and effective implementation that covers every part of the country.