The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) joins all Kenyans and the global community in commemorating the 2024 World Mental Health Day. On this day, we are all called upon to highlight the vital connection between mental health and work; and the need to continue raising awareness, driving actions and implementing interventions that prioritize, promote and protect every person’s mental health as a universal human right in the workplace.
The World Health Organization (WHO) observes that there has been a 13% rise in mental health conditions and substance use disorders in the last decade, with 1 in every 8 people estimated to have been living with a mental health condition as of 2019. In the Kenyan context, the report of the Taskforce on Mental Health of 2020 pointed out that mental illness such as; depression and suicide, substance use disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychoses accounts for 13% of the entire disease burden in Kenya.
Regarding mental health in the workplace, it is estimated that 15% of the global working population has at least one mental health condition. This implies that about 3.7 million of the 24.9 million workforce in Kenya might be living with a mental health condition. The Ministry of Health’s Mental Health Investment Case 2021 puts the burden of mental health conditions at 62.2B annually (0.6 of the GDP) due to loss of productivity capacities. The report further reveal that the investment required for selected clinical packages and population-based preventive interventions over a 10-year period is Kshs. 81.7B.
There is no doubt therefore, that the state of mental health has not gotten any better especially due to the prevailing global and national economic crises that continue to affect peoples’ lives and livelihoods, particularly employees. The Commission notes and acknowledges the efforts by the Ministry of Health in September 2023; when it launched the National Guidelines on Workplace Mental Wellness that seek to help organizations to assess their mental health risks, design programs that promote mental wellness and support those affected by mental health conditions.
The Commission further notes that in September 2024, the Ministry of Health launched the Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Common Mental Health Conditions, along with a Kenya-adapted version of the World Health Organization's Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP). These guidelines aim to close a 75% treatment gap by improving the identification, diagnosis and management of mental health conditions at the primary care level.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights remains concerned that despite the various interventions proposed and rolled out in the country, huge segments of the working population remain with unmet mental health needs at the workplace. The Commission reiterates the need for both public and private sector employers to be deliberate in creating open and safe spaces where employees affected either directly or indirectly are listened to without judgment and offered support in line with this year’s World Mental Health Day theme and clarion call: It is time to prioritize mental health in the workplace.
Recommendations: To address the rising mental health concerns in the workplace, KNCHR urges the government, stakeholders and duty bearers to urgently implement and follow-up these actions:
1. Policy Implementation and Enforcement: The National Guidelines on Workplace Mental Wellness and Clinical Guidelines for Managing Common Mental Health Conditions should be strictly enforced across both public and private sectors to facilitate early identification and support for employees facing mental health issues.
2. Budgetary Allocations: There should be an enhanced financial commitment towards workplace mental health services, particularly focusing on the Ministry of Health’s Mental Health Investment Case 2021, to address the treatment gap in mental health care.
3. Mental Health Systems at Workplaces: Employers, especially in high-risk sectors like security and healthcare, need to establish responsive mental health systems. This includes anonymous reporting, counseling services, and safe spaces for discussing mental health without stigma.
4. Training and Awareness Programs: Employers must be mandated to provide mental health training programs that promote early identification of issues, supportive decisionmaking and de-stigmatization.
5. Support for First Responders and Healthcare Workers: There should be a focus on the mental health of first responders and healthcare workers, including regular mental health check-ins, peer-support networks, and comprehensive care packages to prevent crises.
6. Integration of Lived Experiences in Policy Design: Mental health interventions should involve input from employees with lived experiences, ensuring that policies and workplace environments effectively meet their real needs and foster a supportive atmosphere.
Mental Health is a Universal Human Right and it should be Respected, Protected and Prioritized in the Workplace!
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) is an Independent National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) established under Article 59 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and the KNCHR Act, 2011. The Commission’s mandate is the promotion and protection of human rights in Kenya. The Commission calls upon anyone with concerns about any Human Rights violations to contact us via-: SMS-22359, Email- complaint@knchr.org or on our Toll Free Line 0800 720 627.
Roseline Odede, HSC Chairperson,
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.