May being the Mental health awareness month, it is worth noting that mental health has an impact on many aspects of our daily lives.
Despite pivotal consideration of mental health in the global health indicators and commitments, the global resource envelope for mental health is insignificant.
There lacks enough commitment from governments and donor agencies to support mental health.
Unlike communicable diseases, investments in mental health programmes and services have been completely forgotten, negating the accessibility of quality mental health services.
The World Health Organization defines mental health as a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her potential, can cope with the normal life stresses, can work productively and fruitfully, and can contribute to their community.
Another indicator of low priority for mental health is the lack of budgets and funding for mental healthcare services at national and county governments levels.
According to the World Federation for Mental Health, access to mental healthcare remains unequal.
In low and middle-income nations, 75 to 95 per cent of people with mental health conditions have no access to the right care.
This is further compounded by the fact that mental health, especially in the African context, is a subject often discussed in muted tones due to the stigma and discrimination attached to it.
In Kenya, it is estimated that one in every 10 people suffer from a common mental disorder.
The number increases to one in every four (20-25 per cent) people among patients attending routine outpatient services.
Additionally, the World Health Organization’s 2017 report on the world mental health situation ranked Kenya fifth among African countries with the highest number of depression cases.
Despite the well-outlined guidelines and priority actions in the mental health policy in Kenya, the country still faces a lot of challenges regarding the provision of optimal and affordable mental health care and treatment.
Globally, mental illness on average attracts just two per cent of government spending on health, according to WHO.
Due to the lack of investment in related services, 85 per cent of people suffering from depression on the continent have no access to an effective treatment.
This is hugely attributed to the fact that MPs have done little in the past few years to influence and allocate more funds towards mental health as they prepare and approve the national budget.
With all these damning statistics, the country is still struggling with providing affordable mental health care and treatment.
To mitigate the challenges faced by the mental health sector in Kenya, various strategies have to be put in place.
We should strengthen mental health budget advocacy at the county level to increase mental health budget investments to improve community-based mental health programmes.
Conclusively, there is a need to advocate for the establishment of a national and county government budgeting framework for mental health at both levels.
The state should take measures to implement the Kenya Mental Health Policy 2015-2030 to achieve the optimum health status and capacity of each individual.
Communication student at Rongo University
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
