Public and private health facilities across the country have been challenged to invest in setting up strong mental health units.
This is what Kenya Guild Guides Association chairperson Terry Maina says will help ensure rising cases of mental health among Kenyans are effectively addressed.
Maina, a parliamentary aspirant for Ainabkoi Constituency in the upcoming poll says very few hospitals have fully functional mental health units, largely because it has not been an issue among the African setup.
“Looking at the history of Africa, mental health was not a big issue as we had the traditional ways of providing therapy like dances, weddings, and family get together – but that is no longer there,” she noted.
“With urbanization and challenges that come with it, it has become a challenge yet hospitals have not recognized this as a priority area – mental health is among us, we cannot see but we can only experience,” added Terry Maina.
She also links the recent wave of killings among family members and police to mental health issues that are a result of pressure in communities and homes where people are now unable to cope.
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The Ainabkoi MP aspirant also wants the community to look at ways it can bring back the ancient practices where society supported one another in handling different challenges – including marital.
“I have seen a number of cases where a police officer locks himself in a house and sets it on fire while his child is looking, some have killed wives and children among others. This is a trend we cannot allow to continue,” noted the Kenya Guild Guides Association chairperson.
Terry Maina also called on the government and other stakeholders in the health sector to look at ways that will help sensitize members of the public on mental health issues.
She says it is time people embraced the culture of expressing themselves and admit that they have an issue that needs to be addressed, rather than resorting to extreme measures.
