According to a policy brief released by the Ministry of Health in 2023, at least 4 people die by suicide daily in Kenya! Notably, three out of these four are likely to be men, despite women being three to four times more prone to suicidal ideation. Given these alarming figures, it’s critically important to discuss the state of mental healthcare in Kenya, particularly regarding public investment in mental health services.
June marked Men’s Health Month, a dedicated period to intensify the focus on men’s mental well-being within the broader healthcare landscape. Often expected to show a little less emotion and put on a strong face despite the silent struggles, men find themselves in a society that is not genuinely keen on asking; “How are you doing today, Bro?” …. “No, how are you actually doing?”.
Mental healthcare in Kenya remains significantly under-prioritized, despite its increasing impact on individuals and the national economy. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that one in ten Kenyans experiences a common mental disorder, with over two million individuals struggling with depression. Furthermore, psychosis affects at least 1% of the population, and tragically, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among youth aged 15–29.
The burden of mental illness disproportionately affects families, many of whom must pay out-of-pocket. With 39.2% of Kenyans living below the poverty line as of 2022 and out-of-pocket expenditure accounting for 24% of total health spending, mental health care becomes unaffordable and inaccessible for many.
Recent advancements in health policies offer a promising outlook for those affected. The enactment of the Mental Health Act (2022) marked a pivotal step towards decentralizing mental health services and integrating them into primary healthcare. This crucial development allows citizens to access basic mental healthcare from even the lowest-tier facilities, such as dispensaries. In addition, a landmark High Court ruling in 2025 declared Section 226 of the Penal Code unconstitutional, effectively decriminalizing attempted suicide. This significant legal shift represents substantial progress in dismantling stigma and encouraging more compassionate approaches to mental healthcare.
In realizing better access to mental health services, progress in budgeting for mental health services is also promising. In FY 2021/22, 2% of the national health budget was allocated to mental health, a 12% increase from the previous FY 2020/21 where it was under specialized health services[1]. However, this allocation is still way below the WHO recommendation of 5–10%, despite mental disorders’ expenditure costing the Kenyan economy KES 5.5 billion in health expenditure as of 2021.
Worse still, from a sample of 7 county Programme- based Budgets, only 2 counties had indicators and targets on mental healthcare embedded in different programmes. The other 5 counties had no mention of mental health in either their budget lines or key performance indicators, potentially increasing the gap for accessibility of mental healthcare as a devolved function.
Investing in mental health is not only humane but also economically sound. The Kenya Mental Health Investment Case shows that for every KES 1 invested in treating depression and anxiety alone, the return is KES 4.16. Failure to invest leads to lost productivity, untreated illness, intergenerational poverty, and monetary losses to our economy
To turn the tide, Kenya must prioritize mental healthcare in its budgetary planning. This includes expanding health insurance coverage under the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), ring-fencing mental healthcare allocations, and scaling community-based interventions. At the county level, the prioritization of mental healthcare should begin from the County Integrated Strategy Papers to ensure the implementation, allocation and monitoring of mental health services from the very beginning. Additionally, implementing a health tax on some consumer items such as alcohol, one of the enablers of mental health disorders, could help finance mental health services sustainably. Mental healthcare is essential to achieving Universal Health Coverage and national development. Kenya cannot afford to treat mental healthcare as an unfunded afterthought any longer.
Beyond men’s health month in June, check on a Bro and remind them that they are seen and heard.
