Kenya

How we work in Kenya

We partner with county governments and strategic partners to embed community-based depression treatment into public services.

current partners

Mombasa County
City of Nairobi County
Kiambu County
Machakos County
Kilifi County
Homabay County
Young Life Kenya

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Mombasa County

A Case Study in Multi-Sectoral Approaches to Mental Health

The Mombasa County government is advancing a comprehensive vision for mental health care that is a standard public services, improving health outcomes, education performance, public safety, and economic productivity.

Integration into Community-Based Health Care

Mombasa County’s 2,300 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) provide front-line healthcare support at the household level, identifying health concerns and providing referrals to clinics. StrongMinds worked through the county to train CHPs to screen for depression and deliver group interpersonal therapy (IPT-G) within their assigned communities, thereby equipping them to provide first-line depression care for people experiencing depression symptoms. Clear referral pathways link community-level therapy to facility-based services; CHPs escalate severe depression cases, suicidality, or reports of abuse/gender-based violence to psychologists or psychiatrists, creating a continuum from community support to specialized care within the county system.

Health Clinic Integration
In Comprehensive Care Clinics, people living with HIV, TB, and other illnesses come together in IPT-G groups to find support. Group members work together to overcome the stigma of living with a chronic infectious disease, the fears of disclosure, and the emotional barriers that may prevent them from sticking to treatment. Integrating IPT-G into clinical health support provides gateways for emotional support, better medical treatment adherence, and sustained wellbeing.

Education Sector

Mombasa County offers IPT-G in primary and vocational schools and some colleges. The goal is to improve classroom dynamics and student performance by helping students overcome personal challenges to reach their educational goals. Primary schools are reporting dramatic changes, including better behavior, fewer instances of drug abuse, and less fighting among students. Teachers who have received therapy report more confidence and better interpersonal relationships, as well as improved awareness of challenges students may face at home.

Corrections System
Mombasa County Remand Prison holds individuals awaiting trial or serving short sentences for nonviolent offenses, creating a constant turnover of inmates and a persistent need for rapid, effective mental health care. IPT-G addresses a critical gap, supplementing the 1:1 support offered through the prison’s counseling office so that more inmates can receive mental health support, faster. By helping incarcerated men articulate their emotions, process trauma and stress, resolve anger, reconnect with families, and reexamine their choices, Mombasa County aims to reduce recidivism, improve safety inside and outside the prison, and strengthen families and communities to which inmates return.

Workplace Mental Health
Mombasa County has also ventured into workplace wellness, starting with its own ranks. The County Department of Environment and Governance works with the County Health Department to offer depression screening ad treatment to its employees.