Mental health has been given priority under the universal health scheme

The Government is committed to implementing health system reforms to accelerate movement towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Our approach is centered on critical drivers for expanding the population access to basic health interventions.

This includes mental health services now available under UHC at the community level. The services cover education and awareness on mental health, community screening, psychosocial intervention such as counselling and care coordination with follow-ups by community or social workers.

Others are facility-based services that encompass consultations, examination, diagnosis,clinical interventions and rehabilitation.

Other services include supply of oral and injectable medicines through the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA). We have a two-way approach to provision of these services. First, mental health screening is already being carried out by the 50 family health physicians from Cuba deployed across the country.

Second, the ministry continues to employ other innovative approaches to meet the demand for mental health services, including training of Kenyan doctors on family health inclusive of mental health modules.

Common mental health conditions include depression, schizophrenia, dementia bipolar disorder among others and they affect one in four people globally. Treatment is available, but nearly two-thirds of people with known mental disorders never seek help from a health professional due to stigma, discrimination and neglect, which prevent care and treatment from reaching people with mental disorders.

Mental disorders

Therefore, the ministry continues to diversify the methods of mental health anti-stigma campaigns to include sports, involvement of religious groups, identification and empowering mental health ambassadors and working with influential persons in the art and music industry.

The consequences of poor mental health are well known. Gaps in treatment of mental disorders contribute to an increase in domestic violence, suicide, poor academic performance and indiscipline.

At the workplace, there could be poor interpersonal relationships, reduced work output due to frequent absence, costly and repeated visits to clinicians. In cases where there is chronic illness such as diabetes, poor treatment outcome may be witnessed when a comorbid mental disorder exists.

In their most severe form, mental disorders lead to suicidal thoughts, suicidal attempts and completed suicides. The economic burden of untreated mental disorders is enormous and the gain in mental promotion, prevention and treatment of mental disorders is well documented.

Locally and indeed globally, it has been recognised that multiple social, psychological, and biological factors determine the level of mental health of a person at any point of time. That is due to the appreciation that health is an integral part of development.

Health agenda

Health has been defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease. While this definition clarifies that there is no health without mental health, consistent inclusion of mental health in the local and international health agenda cannot be overemphasised.

It is for this reason that the third United Nations Sustainable Development Goal calls for all nations to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all, including mental health.

Similarly, the WHO Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020, endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 2013, has recognised the essential role of mental health in achieving health for all people.

The plan includes four major objectives: More effective leadership and governance for mental health, provision of comprehensive, integrated mental health and social care services in community-based settings, implementation of strategies for promotion and prevention, and strengthened information systems, evidence and research.

On our part, the ministry developed the Kenya Mental Health Policy 2015-2030, which provides a framework for securing mental health systems reforms in line with the  Big 4 Agenda, the Kenyan Constitution, Vision 2030, the Kenya Health Policy and global commitments on health.

We recognise that success in the quest to improve mental health care is contingent on strong partnerships with other governmental and non-governmental organisations with the ministry.

The future of mental healthcare in Kenya will be characterised by provision of user-friendly services including youth friendly clinics, integration of mental health services in the general health services and a multi-sectoral approach to maximise achievement of mental health goals.

Mrs Kariuki is Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health