Kenya unveils Mental Health Policy

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 17 – Kenya has unveiled its first Mental Health Policy that will focus the nation’s attention on addressing mental illnesses.

The policy (2015-2030), which was launched on Tuesday May 17th , seeks to destigmatize, decriminalize and deinstitutionalize mental health concerns, giving them high priority owing to the impact they have on a patient’s life as well as the socioeconomic development of the nation.

Issues such as the stigma that is associated with mental health as well as laws which criminalize mental health issues will all be addressed by the policy.

Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Cleopa Mailu said that mental health must be safeguarded by policy directives as well as legislation and that the policy would jump start the process.

“This policy is a landmark achievement in many ways. It focuses national attention on a long-neglected problem and does so with a welcome sense of urgency,” he said.

The CS further observed that mental health was rooted in the principles of human rights and that it drew support from the Constitution as well as various international conventions.

“Every person has a right to the highest attainable standard of health including the right to healthcare services, Vision 2030 and the Kenya Health Policy (2014-2030). This is the ultimate goal,” he explained.

Dr. Mailu also called upon all stakeholders to align their work plans to the policy in order for the country to transform mental health.

The policy will provide benchmarks for measuring the goals set for the provision of quality mental health services.

“This is what we all want to see: progress because there is no health without mental health,” argued the CS.

Dr. Mailu was accompanied by World Health Organization Country Representative for Kenya Dr. Custodia Mandlhate, who lauded the development of the policy noting that it would go a long way in addressing the health concern.

Mental, neurological and substance use disorders have become common, affecting more than 25 percent of people at some point of their lifetime. This translates to one in four people.

It is also estimated that 20 to 40 percent of patients seen in primary care have one or more mental disorders. In addition, the burden of mental, neurological and substance use disorders will be 15 percent of the total Disability-Adjusted Life Years by 2020 if nothing is done to address them.