May 2025
A Thank you Letter to all Mental Health Champions and Advocates for the Good Work You are Doing
Hello Champions and Advocates!
I hope this letter finds all of you in good health, physically, emotionally, and mentally. May is usually celebrated as Mental Health Awareness Month. It is a significant month when people take time to reflect on mental health issues and work to reduce stigma. This year’s theme is “Turning Awareness into Action.” It’s a powerful theme that encourages all of us to do more in finding and implementing the necessary strategies and tools to address mental health conditions. Especially this May 2025, Mental Health Awareness Month, I want to celebrate all the mental health champions and advocates across Kenya, particularly those working within informal settlements. For me, these champions and advocates are primarily individuals and organizations that have been actively advocating and raising awareness about mental health in all spaces and platforms, be it at home, in the workplace, healthcare facilities, schools, colleges, universities, churches, mosques, online spaces, TV and radio, or at public forums. Secondly, these champions and advocates include those who had been "defeated" by mental health conditions but chose not to stay silent, acknowledged their struggles, and fought back by taking that leap of faith and asking for help.
So, this letter aims to honor and salute these special individuals and organizations for their commitment to reducing or eliminating stigma, misconceptions, and discrimination related to mental health conditions. Mental illness should be treated like any other illness. Such champions and advocates are rare but, at the same time, priceless. Their work cannot be summed up in a single word. This Mental Awareness Month, I also want to sincerely celebrate the incredible work of mental health champions at Mathare Tabasamu Cafe. These champions have been using the power of music and dancing to address and help improve people's mental wellbeing, especially those living in Mathare Slums. Guys, keep it up.
Honestly speaking, we are currently living in an era of crisis. People are losing their jobs. Businesses are shutting down. There are constant threats and attacks on family structures. Families are breaking down, and separation and divorce have become common. There is a lot of negative “noise" and notifications coming from radios, TVs, and social media. We are also witnessing climate-induced disasters. All of these issues have a direct impact on our overall mental well-being. Being there for people going through such experiences can totally change
their lives. Regularly checking on them and giving them that special hug can go a long way in making sure they don't feel alone. Creating safe spaces for them to share and speak out their challenges will definitely help them find that "strength" again, bounce back, and discover purpose and meaning in their lives.
It is also important to recognize the Kenyan government's efforts and commitment in the fight against mental health conditions. For example, on June 21st, 2022, President Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law the mental health bill that aims to protect persons with mental health conditions. Additionally, the current government has included mental illnesses within the structures and implementation of the SHA. That is a notable step in the right direction. On the same note, on January 9, 2024, a landmark judgment was delivered by Justice Lawrence Mugambi that decriminalized attempted suicide in Kenya. All these actions indicate that we as a country have come a long way in mental health matters, but there is still more that needs to be done.
In conclusion, may you, the champions and advocates, never tire or give up. And may the almighty God continue to supply you with enough grace to be there for others who are struggling with mental health conditions. May you be that light and mirror to the community you serve. Additionally, continue creating safe spaces and environments where people can thrive, connect, and find purpose. Finally, may you also remember to take good care of yourself mentally as you support others.
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In her interview, Nicera Wanjiru shares the impactful stories of two young residents from Kibera informal settlement, Vivian Vushele and Charles Gicura, as they reflect on how the Covid-19 pandemic has transformed their lives. Both faced significant challenges: Vivian experienced her parents' separation, while Charles had to pivot from a career in hospitality due to the industry's collapse. Their narratives highlight the emotional and economic upheaval that many young people endured during this unprecedented time.
In this piece, Jacob Omondi, Jackline Waithaka, and Jane Wairutu discuss the profound impact of COVID-19 on youth in informal settlements like Mathare, Nairobi. The pandemic has exacerbated job losses and financial instability, particularly affecting those in the informal economic sector, where many young people rely on daily earnings from their businesses.
In Loitoktok, Kajiado County, a women’s group is transforming lives through resilience and innovation. With support from the Next Level Grant Facility under Voices for Just Climate Action, they’ve expanded urban farming and beekeeping, proving the power of collective action in climate adaptation and economic empowerment.
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