Mental Health

Mental Health

Mental Health has emerged as a significant concern in recent years.

According to Kenya Mental Health Policy, 1 in every 4 Kenyans has suffered from a mental illness at one point in their lives. WHO report ranked Kenya 5th in Africa with 1.9 million people with mental illness. Depression and Anxiety are the most common mental illness reported.6 out of 10 mental illness cases reported are among the youth and adolescents. In 2019-2020, report shows that 25% of patients seeking outpatient services and 40% of those seeking inpatient services showed signs of mental ill health.

With this background LVCT health has increasingly focused on integrating mental health services into existing programs and ensuring that Adolescents and young women, key and vulnerable populations, people living with disability and clients accessing HIV prevention and treatment services are accessing mental health services alongside other services.

Objective

To contribute to increased knowledge of and access to mental health services to vulnerable and at-risk populations.

Our Achievements

10,000+

Adolescent and young people provided with tele-counselling services through our 1190 hotline

100+

Kenyan companies provided mental health awareness services reaching over 1,200 employees

11,000+

Community Health Volunteers facilitated to provide mental health support in their communities during COVID-19 period

Developed Mental Health Training Curriculum for Kenya Prisons

Strategic Interventions

1.Increased Capacity of Health Providers to Provide MH Services

  • Training and Mentorship Programs: Develop and implement comprehensive training and mentorship programs for mental health professionals (psychologists, counselors, social workers). Focus on evidence-based practices, clinical skills enhancement, and ongoing professional development.
  • Community Health Provider Training: Train community health providers and peer support workers in mental health first aid, effective support provision, and referral and follow-up services. Emphasize the importance of community-level mental health support.
  • Collaboration with Government Bodies: Collaborate with national and county governments to map existing mental health providers, conduct training needs assessments, and develop tailored training packages and plans.
  • Support Mechanisms for Providers: Organize regular onsite debriefing sessions and counselor supervision sessions to ensure the well-being of mental health providers. Implement “caring for the carers” initiatives to prevent burnout and promote resilience among mental health professionals.

2.Increased Proportion of Individuals Accessing Destigmatized, Quality, Timely, and Affordable Services:

  • Integration into Primary Health Care: Integrate mental health services into primary health care settings to improve accessibility and reduce stigma. Train primary care providers in mental health screening and management.
  • Cultural Competency Training: Provide training on cultural competency and diversity to ensure mental health services are accessible and appropriate for diverse populations.
  • Multi-Sectoral Mental Health Promotion: Develop and implement multi-sectoral education programs at community and health facility levels to raise awareness about mental health issues, promote early identification, reduce stigma, and encourage help-seeking behaviors.
  • Routine Screening Protocols: Implement routine mental health screening in primary care and other relevant settings using standardized tools. Develop protocols for assessing and managing individuals at high risk of mental health disorders.

3.Enhanced Data and Research on MH in Kenya:

  • Electronic Health Records (EHRs): Improve data collection by utilizing EHRs to track mental health screenings, diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes. Ensure data is systematically collected and analyzed.
  • Data Analytics: Use data analytics to identify trends, monitor program effectiveness, and inform policy decisions. Develop dashboards and reporting systems for real-time data monitoring.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation: Scale up monitoring of mental health services at community and facility levels. Establish clear indicators and metrics for assessing program impact.
  • Research and Evidence Generation: Support the generation of new evidence through evaluations and research on mental health interventions and innovative approaches. Encourage partnerships with academic institutions and research organizations.

4.Mental Health Services Delivered Through Digital Platforms:

  • Tele-Counseling and Referral Mechanisms: Enhance tele-counseling and referral mechanisms through platforms like one2one digital. Train providers in delivering tele-mental health services.
  • Digital Tools and Mobile Apps: Develop and promote digital tools and mobile apps for mental health self-assessment, monitoring, and support. Ensure these tools are user-friendly and accessible.
  • Awareness and Accessibility: Conduct awareness campaigns to promote the use of digital mental health platforms. Ensure these platforms are widely accessible, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

Our Current Projects

MH Reach

The intervention looks at Profiling mental health risk factors, needs and services using an app among Adolescents and Young Adults aged 15-24 years residing in Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa Counties in Kenya .MH Reach aims to collect qualitative data to identify mental health protective and risk factors among adolescents and young people using an established mobile app called REACH.

Explore:  https://bit.ly/3rstI4q


Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Groups (IPT-G)

The intervention’s goal is to provide group psychotherapy sessions to AGYW in HIV prevention programs. Adolescent young women and girls (AGYW) identified to have depressive symptoms through screening are supported to access Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Groups (IPT-G) offered by trained community mentors. This is integrated within the PEPFAR-supported DREAMS program in   Kiambu and Homabay counties.


MindSKILLZ

This is a holistic, sport-based mental well-being intervention reaching adolescents ages 10-14 Years in Nairobi and Mombasa.  By leveraging the power of soccer, the Mindskillz program aims to equip young people with life-saving information, services, and mentorship needed to live healthier lives. The program is designed to address the growing need for adolescent health programs that focus on developing life skills beyond academic education. It provides adolescents with the tools they need to develop and sustain a positive attitude, build self-confidence, and develop essential skills required to succeed in today’s rapidly changing world. Youth mentors are trained to deliver 12 sessions to the groups of adolescents using the Mindskillz coaches guide.

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Strengthening health systems by addressing community health workers’ mental well-being and agency (NIHR-SHINE)

This is a study that looks at the stressors affecting the mental well-being and the coping mechanisms of Community health promoters. The findings from the study will be utilized to co-develop, pilot and adapt a holistic health systems support package for CHWs in Bangladesh and Kenya with a specific focus on integrating psychosocial support to ensure CHWs’ well-being and agency in challenging contexts (urban informal slums and remote rural settings), ultimately improving health systems resilience.

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Mental Health through Inclusivity Creating Awareness Resilience and Empowerment (MiCARE)

MiCARE is a USAID supported initiative that aims to develop a training package for health care workers working at all USAID-supported drop-in centers (DICEs) and health facilities that are currently serving key populations. MiCARE aims to Increase access to mental health care for the Key Population /Gender and Sexual Minority community by providing skills for healthcare providers and community workers to offer affirming and non-discriminatory mental health and gender-based violence services.