By Ivyn Kipruto and Daniel Omwoyo
Kenya is set to conduct its first-ever National Baseline Mental Health Survey following the inauguration of an advisory committee by the Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday.
The committee chaired by Director General (DG) Dr. Patrick Amoth is expected to give leadership and direction to the study.The study is expected to provide the country’s first nationally representative data on the burden of mental health conditions.
Speaking on behalf of DG. Amoth, Head of Family Health at the Ministry, Dr. Bashir Issak, said the survey addresses a long-standing gap highlighted by the 2020 Taskforce on mental health, which found that Kenya lacked comprehensive statistics on mental health prevalence, treatment gaps, and socio-economic determinants.
“Current data is fragmented, localized, and mainly collected in hospitals, which is not showing the true situation in communities. This survey was filling that gap and was giving us a strong evidence-based foundation for planning,” Dr. Issak said.
Despite having a national mental health policy, implementation has remained sluggish due to inadequate funding.
However,Dr. Amoth noted that mental health policy implementation has been hampered by limited resources citing the 2021 Mental Health Investment Case, which emphasized the urgent need for targeted funding and prioritization to strengthen services and reduce the treatment gap.
According to DG the upcoming survey is expected to generate national estimates of mental health conditions, highlight socio-economic and demographic influences on well-being, and provide a baseline for monitoring future progress. The findings will guide resource allocation, strengthen advocacy, and improve service delivery across the country.
Dr. Amoth emphasized that the Advisory Committee will play a crucial role in maintaining scientific integrity, translating findings into actionable policy, and ensuring multi-sectoral collaboration.
“This initiative must mark the turning point in how we treat mental health in Kenya. With your leadership, we can reduce stigma, expand access to care, and ensure mental health is integrated as a core component of overall well-being,” he said.
The event was attended by senior health officials, including Ms. Khatra Ali, Director of Health Services MoH, Dr. Mercy Karanja, Head of Mental Health MoH, and Prof. Lukoye Atwoli, Dean of the Aga Khan University Medical College, East Africa.
