Voices from the Youth in Kenya Addressing Mental Health Gaps and Recommendations

Peter Memiah, Fernando A. Wagner, Robert Kimathi, Naomi Idah Anyango, Samuel Kiogora, Stella Waruinge, Faith Kiruthi, Shillah Mwavua, Celina Kithinji, Jeremiah Okuto Agache, Wincolyne Mangwana, Niyibeshaho Marie Merci, Leonidah Ayuma, Samuel Muhula, Yvonne Opanga, Maureen Nyambura, Annrita Ikahu and Lillian Otiso
Additional contact information
Peter Memiah: Division of Epidemiology and Prevention, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Fernando A. Wagner: School of Social Work, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Robert Kimathi: LVCT Health, Nairobi P.O. Box 19835-00202, Kenya
Naomi Idah Anyango: Ministry of Health Kenya, Nairobi P.O. Box 30016-00100, Kenya
Samuel Kiogora: Ministry of Health Kenya, Nairobi P.O. Box 30016-00100, Kenya
Stella Waruinge: Nairobi Metropolitan Services, Nairobi P.O. Box 30430-00100, Kenya
Faith Kiruthi: Nairobi Metropolitan Services, Nairobi P.O. Box 30430-00100, Kenya
Shillah Mwavua: Nairobi Metropolitan Services, Nairobi P.O. Box 30430-00100, Kenya
Celina Kithinji: Mombasa County Department of Health, Mombasa P.O. Box 81599-80100, Kenya
Jeremiah Okuto Agache: Kisumu County Department of Health, Kisumu P.O. Box 721-40100, Kenya
Wincolyne Mangwana: Youth Advisory Champions for Health, Nairobi Youth Advisory Council, Mombasa P.O. Box 81599-80100, Kenya
Niyibeshaho Marie Merci: Youth Advisory Champions for Health, Nairobi Youth Advisory Council, Mombasa P.O. Box 81599-80100, Kenya
Leonidah Ayuma: Youth Advisory Champions for Health, Nairobi Youth Advisory Council, Mombasa P.O. Box 81599-80100, Kenya
Samuel Muhula: Amref Health Africa in Kenya, Nairobi P.O. Box 30125-00100, Kenya
Yvonne Opanga: Amref Health Africa in Kenya, Nairobi P.O. Box 30125-00100, Kenya
Maureen Nyambura: Ministry of Health Kenya, Nairobi P.O. Box 30016-00100, Kenya
Annrita Ikahu: LVCT Health, Nairobi P.O. Box 19835-00202, Kenya
Lillian Otiso: LVCT Health, Nairobi P.O. Box 19835-00202, Kenya

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: Studies including adolescents and young people (AYP) enhance the relevance of research results, benefit stakeholders, and inform future research. There exists a mental health gap in services for AYP living in low and middle-income countries. This study aims to identify mental health challenges faced by adolescents and young people in Kenya, develop practical recommendations to mitigate these issues, and reduce the mental health burden among this population. We convened an AYP-led meeting that involved 41 participants. The meeting objectives were to (1) identify efforts to support existing national and regional strategic priorities and review goals for addressing mental health needs among AYPs, (2) develop immediate action plans for strengthened mental health services, (3) review and strengthen country-level coordination mechanisms, and (4) identify how participating county experiences can inform mental health services in Kenya. Ministry of Health (MoH) officials from national and county levels, academic experts, and implementing partner agencies involved in mental health services participated in the meeting. The team, including AYP representatives, identified various mental health challenges among the AYA and recommended interventions aimed towards improving their mental health situation in the country. The challenges were clustered into three themes and comprehensively reviewed to establish the precipitating factors to mental health outcomes among AYPs in Kenya and provide recommendations. The themes included (1) legislative, (2) service provider/Ministry of Health, and (3) adolescent/individual-level factors. To bridge the mental health gap in the country and scale up mental health outcomes, the stakeholders recommended interventions within the context of the three clusters. The key suggestions included an increase in insurance financing, acceleration of community health interventions, the establishment of adolescent-friendly spaces, the training of adolescent youth champions, interactive service provision models, implementation of the existing mental health policies and structures, the development of comprehensive assessment tools, well equipped mental health departments in health facilities, the enhancement of telehealth services and digital villages, the mobilization of a functional mental health response team, and the development of a mental health database.

Keywords: mental health; adolescents and young people; digital health; Youth Advisory Champions for Health (YACH); Ministry of Health (MoH); participatory research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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