Shift for Change Mental Health Advocacy: Our Mental Health; Our shared ownership; Our responsibility

01 Summary

In 2019/2020, OAY in partnership with Tinada Youth Organization convened and coordinated a coalition of Kenyan youth, youth workers and youth serving organizations, concerned about grave negative mental health among adolescents and youth in Kenya. The organizations came together to engage the Mental Health Mental Taskforce set up by the President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2019 and develop programs to address the issue. Our concern was fear of addressing symptoms of mental health outcomes among adolescents and youth (the present and future of Kenya) instead of the real issues facing our society and nation.

02 Strategy

Target 3.4 of the Sustainable Development Goals states: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being
Although the international community has pledged to address mental health problems, too many people still suffer their deleterious effects. Among adolescents and youth, the problems they face include relationships and social pressures, prenatal depression and suicide; the mental and psychological consequences of miscarriage, abortion or complications stemming from pregnancy and childbirth, lack of support following childbirth, gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV/AIDS. Kenya is currently piloting Universal Health Coverage in 4 counties; where in
The High Burden of Mental Health Problems Mental and behavioral disorders are estimated to account for 12 per cent of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD).Depression ranks fourth worldwide in GBD and is projected to move up to second place by the end of 2020. One million people commit suicide every year which translates to one person every 40 seconds.
We cautioned against dealing with symptoms: Poverty, gender inequity and human rights violations are shown to increase the incidence of mental health problems, and vice versa. Mental health problems also correspond to the decreased ability to make rational choices and increase the probability of risky sexual behavior and substance abuse. This can lead to more unintended pregnancies, STIs-including HIV-and a higher risk of being either the victim or perpetrator, of GBV.

03 Key Actions

In 2019/2020, OAY in partnership with Tinada Youth Organization convened and coordinated a coalition of Kenyan youth, youth workers and youth serving organizations, concerned about grave negative mental health among adolescents and youth in Kenya.
We developed online feedback submission form and collected over 100 voices
We mandated a drafting team to develop the memorandum
We submitted the memorandum to the Taskforrce headed by Prof Atwoli Lukotye

04 Impacts

The memorandum was adopted by the Taskfore and annexed to the final report

Shift for Change Mental Health Advocacy: Our Mental Health; Our shared ownership; Our responsibility

Overview

01 Summary

02 Strategy

03 Key Actions

04 Impacts