Nearly one in two Kenyans grapple with mental health issues, a crisis exacerbated by emerging stressors such as economic instability, conflict, and climate change.
The alarming data was revealed during the Shamiri Institute which brought together scientists, policymakers, and implementers for the annual Shamiri Summit, held on November 14–15 at the Safari Park Hotel & Casino, to tackle the challenges facing Kenyan youth and identify collaborative pathways forward.
The summit unveiled the findings of Shamiri Institute’s latest youth mental health survey, which interviewed over 1,300 adolescents aged 12 to 24 across eight counties. The data highlighted the urgent need for scalable mental health solutions.
The survey revealed that 37 percent of adolescents report moderate to severe anxiety and depression, with 61percent showing moderate to severe PTSD symptoms. Additionally, 41percent of the youth surveyed experience low well-being.
Urban counties, especially Nairobi and Kiambu, reported higher rates of depression and anxiety.
Older students, particularly those in Form Four, and adolescents in large towns showed elevated mental health challenges.
Adolescents in single-parent homes or urban areas reported higher PTSD levels, emphasizing the role of family and community settings in shaping mental health outcomes.
“These findings reflect the scale of the mental health crisis among Kenya’s youth and underline the need for solutions tailored to their unique challenges,” said Tom Osborn, CEO and Founder of Shamiri Institute.
Since its inception in 2018, Shamiri Institute has served over 130,000 youth, becoming Africa’s largest provider of youth mental health services. In the past year alone, the institute’s interventions reached over 100,000 adolescents using a three-tiered caregiving model designed to address anxiety and depression effectively.
The flagship Shamiri intervention is a brief, low-stigma program that teaches gratitude, growth mindset, and value alignment to high school students. This approach has shown an 80percent success rate in reducing anxiety and depression among participants.
“At Shamiri Institute, we are innovating traditional caregiving models through rigorous research to ensure they are effective and contextualized to meet the needs of Kenyan youth,” Osborn explained.
To further scale its impact, Shamiri Institute is developing shamiriOS, a digital platform that provides real-time data visualization, efficient tracking, and live monitoring of mental health programs. The tool enables enhanced program fidelity and adherence, while offering partners actionable insights for rapid scaling and increased reach.
“This platform is a game-changer in how we deliver and monitor mental health programs. It ensures that we can expand our reach while maintaining the quality and effectiveness of our interventions,” Osborn said.
The summit emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to combat the youth mental health crisis. Stakeholders discussed how evidence-based programs like Shamiri’s can be scaled to provide mental health support to every young person in Kenya.
“The youth mental health crisis demands immediate and sustained action,” Osborn concluded. “With the right tools and partnerships, we can help Kenya’s youth overcome these challenges and build resilient futures.”
As Kenya grapples with the mental health challenges facing its young population, the work of Shamiri Institute serves as a beacon of hope, showcasing how innovative, scalable solutions can transform lives and secure brighter futures for the nation’s youth.
