| The Kenya Psychiatric Association (KPA) wants the government to implement the mental health task force report which recommends more funding to mental healthcare institutions.
The report also wants the national assembly to implement the mental health policies which will fast rack the formation of a mental Health and Happiness Commission to address the rising cases of mental illness in the Country.
The association wants among other things the president to maintain a presidential advisor on mental illness in order for the office to coordinate continuing delivery of mental health services countrywide.
Speaking in Mombasa during the Kenya psychiatric Association annual conference themed ’’Building a health Nation’’, the association president Dr. Bernard Chitayi says there is a high percentage of young people facing the challenge of mental health in Kenya, with the recent statistics showing about 2 in 5 young people between the age of 10-17 years suffer mental disorders.
Chitayi said the rising cases have been attributed to a number of stress factors including poverty, problems within families, ethnic tensions, substance use, school systems that are stressful among others.
With mental health currently affecting 60 percent of the Kenyan population the association calls on the disorders to be looked at as illnesses with health care institutions building the capacity and distinguishing the issues amongst students and teachers. Mathare teaching and referral hospital board chair Prof Lukoye Atwoli said although the country has made significant strides against mental health challenges, there are still serious gaps which need to be addressed.
According to Dr. Frank Njenga, a mental health expert,up to 30 percent of people seeking medical attention have a form of mental disorder.
The Formation of the Task force was ordered by the former President last year with the primary mandate being to study the status of mental health in the country. |
