Universities enhance programme to tackle mental health challenges among students

Students in institutions of higher learning are turning on the internet to seek solutions to poor mental health and realize positive health, education and gender equality outcomes as cases of depression, unwanted pregnancies and gender violence continue to rise in such institutions.

Both UoN and MKU have successfully implemented student training through a programme called  Our lives, Our rights, Our future (O3+)  through a partnership with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The project which was implemented between last year and this year aims at providing support to students in Higher Education and Tertiary Institutions (HTEIs) to overcome challenges that may interfere with their studies.

The O3 Plus project focused on the reduction of new HIV infections through positive reproductive health practices, prevention of unintended pregnancies, sexual and gender-based violence, drug abuse and mental health challenges among HTEIs students. MKU and UoN were honoured to be selected to implement the project activities on a pilot basis.

The objectives were achieved through a number of activities including O3 Plus awareness campaigns, identification and recognition of O3 Plus Champions, Podcast development as well as a major sensitization walk in Thika town.

Through podcasts, students were able to pour out their hearts on issues which are bothering them, and experts were able to give advice to the students on the necessary steps they are supposed to take in order to overcome mental issues and societal pressure. The podcasts reached a huge population of students, including those in other universities.

The University of Nairobi (UoN) also resolved to start hiring its needy students for contractual jobs, as a way of reducing depression brought about by financial challenges at the Institution.

Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Stephen Kiama said the Dean of Students and the Career Office had been charged with the responsibility of identifying deserving students to be given the jobs, while still undertaking their studies.

He said empowering their students with jobs that they can do for a small payment made more sense than giving the jobs to outsiders.

MKU Vice Chancellor, Prof Deogratius Jaganyi said student leaders and school clinics have to deal with depression cases among the students each day, making it a matter of great apprehension.

He said through stakeholder participation, talks on Gender-Based Violence, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Mental health that trigger depression were mainstreamed in the schools as a co-curriculum activity.

On the other hand, Gretsa University beauty queen  Monicah Joy, a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce student has resolved to create short videos on Tik Tok, which will also incorporate mental health experts in order to give advice to fellow students on how to deal with mental health issues.

Monicah Joy who won the Miss Gretsa 2022 crown was prompted to take this route after her mother committed suicide in the year 2018 due to depression.

 The mother,  could not contain her grief, after losing her son to Meningitis the same year.

Monicah says getting the message out there to students through TikTok is likely to have a lasting effect, because the message will be driven in an innovative and entertaining manner, and therefore it will be easy to consume.

In Kenya, it is estimated that one in every 10 people suffer from a common mental disorder. The number increases to one in every four (20-25%) people among patients attending routine outpatient services.

In a 2017 report titled “Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders”, the World Health Organisation ranked Kenya fifth among African countries with the highest number of depression cases. The report went further to show that there exist high levels of depression and suicidal behaviour, high levels of mental distress, and substance use in Kenya.

In their statement, the students called on the Government to review the progress of the Kenya Mental Health Policy with a view to identifying gaps that needed bridging.

During this year's World Mental Health day which was marked on 10th October,  the World Health Organization said COVID-19 has had a major impact on people’s Mental Health with health workers, students, people living alone and those with pre-existing conditions having been particularly affected.