Every year, World Mental Health Day (October 10) arrives to underline the growing need for actionable steps and policies that can make healthcare systems more inclusive and effective.
Mical Imbukwa emphasized that Kenya’s Mental Health Policy and Mental Health (Amendment) Act must include caregivers’ rights and support servicesIn 2020, Kenya established a Mental Health Taskforce, which identified depression, suicide, substance use disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety and psychosis as the major mental illnesses affecting the population.
The lack of policy support however affects not only those suffering from mental disorders but also their caregivers.
“Caring for a person with mental illness takes a huge toll on caregivers. Due to the emotional and physical demands imposed on them, caregivers are very often at risk of developing psychological issues including acute stress and depression.
Their mental wellness is rarely prioritized and their need for psychosocial support is often overlooked,” says Nguvu Change Leader Mical Imbukwa.
As a single, childless woman, she also found herself caring for an older brother who suffers from alcohol use disorder (AUD) and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).
Her petition is a plea for all caregivers who have also struggled to assert their own needs and aspirations amidst familial pressures and obligations.
The Ministry of Health has developed the Kenya Mental Health Policy 2015-2030, ensuring optimal health and well-being for all citizens.
However, she emphasized that the mental health rights of caregivers must be explicitly outlined within the policy as well as in the Mental Health (Amendment) Act, 2022.
The passionate journalist from Vihiga, dedicated to championing women’s rights and gender equality, in her online petition has also urged the Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary, Dr Debra Mulongo Barasa, to work with relevant stakeholders to amend the Kenya Mental Health Policy and support caregivers.
Nguvu Collective is also synergising with Nivishe Foundation, a youth and women-led organization to address the neglected mental health needs of caregivers, advocate for the human rights of mental health patients and push for broader national interventions.
“The goal of these collaborative efforts is to spark a nationwide conversation highlighting the often-neglected struggles of caregivers, the majority of whom are women, whose mental health risks have increased due to the intense emotional and physical demands placed upon them,” concludes Mical.
