Mental health silent and unspoken threat - Seku VC

Educationists have called for concerted efforts to address cases of mental illness threatening academia globally.

South Eastern Kenya University Vice Chancellor Professor Douglas Shitanda said the illness as an unspoken and silent pandemic.

“Let us address mental health issues; an unspoken but silent pandemic that is threatening the wellbeing of faculty around the globe,” he said.

Shitanda spoke on Monday during the launch of a three day conference of Kenya DAAD Scholars association in Kitui county.

The forum was attended by university lecturers and psychologists from East Africa.

It's theme was Mental health pandemic among Kenyan academia: sharing experiences and building resilience against the odds.

“As we gather here today, we reflect on the shared challenges faced by the faculty globally in balancing everyday demands of academic life with their personal well-being,” Shitanda said.

He said psychologists are the backbone of academic and research establishments and their mental health should be taken care of.

He said said the outcomes and recommendations of the conference will shed light on actionable plans to be implemented.

Kitui Governor Julius Malombe said in recent years, mental health concerns have increased within academic circles.

He urged the participants to come up with strategies to build resilience among the Kenyan academia.

“The pressures faced by students, lecturers and researchers in our institutions of learning have reached alarming levels, manifesting in anxiety, depression and burnout,” Malombe said.

His speech was delivered by Kitui Health and sanitation executive Ruth Koki.

Malombe said a collective action is needed to address the pandemic.

“Addressing the mental health crisis in Kenyan academia is not just about managing symptoms because it is not the bruises on the body that hurt but the wounds of the heart and the scars on the mind as stated by Aisha Mirza,” he said.

“By prioritising mental health, we can ensure that our students and lecturers thrive, not just academically but holistically.”

Conference organising committee chairperson Profesor Johnson Kitheka said the theme was informed by the increasing attention nationally and globally.

DAAD Regional director, Dorothee Weyler said mental health needs to be addressed urgently.

She asked participants to seek to identify the triggers and the early symptoms for treatment.