County scales up mental health services with 3,689 trained workers

ESTHER MWANGI-KNA

Nakuru County has trained 3,689 health workers to offer specialised mental health support, in a move aimed at strengthening community-level mental health services.

The health workers who comprise 3,459 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and 230 nurses and clinicians, are expected to offer first-line support and initial psychosocial care for mental health disorders, raise awareness, and refer affected community members to specialized mental health services where necessary.

County Mental Health Coordinator Lydia Nyaga said the programme, supported by AMREF Health Africa and Johnson & Johnson, has enhanced the capacity of health workers to identify and address mental health challenges within communities.

She stated that the CHPs were also enhancing continuity of care by following up on referrals, promoting adherence to treatment, and offering basic psychosocial support. She spoke during a meeting between county health officials and a Johnson & Johnson delegation led by Head of Market Access and General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mousannif Sanae. 

She noted that the structured referral pathway strengthened the health system and align with recommendations by the World Health Organization to integrate mental health into primary healthcare.

“Community Health Promoters serve as a crucial link between their communities and the formal health system, making essential health services more accessible,” she said.

The training program facilitated through the electronic Community Health Information System (e-CHIS) platform brought on board the beneficiaries drawn from all the 11-Sub-Counties within the devolved unit.

The Official further explained that the program was part of the County’s strategy focusing on providing support within communities and at workplaces, including training of supervisors to recognize signs of mental health issues and offering appropriate support.

Ms. Nyaga pointed out that the training had also focused on providing psycho-educational support and training for health care professionals across all cadres towards promoting free discussion on mental health challenges and empowering members of Kenyan society on how to identify, cope and respond to mental health concerns.