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Families: Mental health’s first line of defence
Kenya’s response to the mental health crisis must begin not in clinics, but around kitchen tables, in living rooms and within everyday acts of care.
As the world marks the International Day of Families today, the spotlight is on one of society’s most powerful yet understated institutions: the family.
In Kenya, as in many parts of the world, families are becoming the first responders to a growing mental health crisis. Economic pressures, job losses, climate-induced disasters, rising cost of living and post-pandemic trauma have placed unprecedented emotional strain on Kenyan households. Anxiety, depression and stress-related conditions are rising across both urban and rural areas. Yet, access to professional mental health services remains limited for the majority.
In this vacuum, families have become the frontline. Parents, siblings, grandparents and even neighbours are offering emotional support, whether through listening, caregiving or simply helping loved ones feel safe.
In many communities, these informal systems of support are the only mental health care available. Women and girls, in particular, carry the burden of emotional labour in families—supporting children, partners and elders while often receiving little to no support themselves. This unpaid and unacknowledged care work deserves policy attention, especially as mental health needs increase.
Despite their vital role, Kenyan families are largely unsupported in this task. Stigma continues to silence conversations about mental illness. Many parents and guardians lack the knowledge to recognise early signs of distress. Cultural beliefs sometimes discourage seeking help altogether.
It is time for a national reset. The government, civil society, faith institutions and schools must come together to equip families with the tools to support mental wellness. This includes: mental health literacy for parents and caregivers; community-based psychosocial support; affordable, accessible mental health services; and policies that recognise and support the emotional caregiving role families play
Kenya’s response to the mental health crisis must begin not in clinics, but around kitchen tables, in living rooms and within everyday acts of care. Because before the counsellor or the clinic, it is the family that listens first. And in many cases, it is the family that heals first.
Nancy Njeru