A 360 Approach to Mental Health Advocacy and Awareness in Kenya

We are a youth-led Mental Health organization serving the youth. We employ storytelling, art, and experiential learning to create awareness and advocate for mental wellness in Kenya. We believe sustainable healing lies in a holistic (360) approach and stronger social support systems.

Our Programs

Our Story

Journey With an Impact

Mental 360 was born out of Bright Shitemi’s mental health experience in 2016. His vision was to raise awareness, create safe spaces, and offer holistic support to underserved communities facing mental health challenges.

Mission

Strengthening psychosocial support systems for better mental health among the youth.

Vision

Healthy minds, healthy communities

Our Values

At Mental 360 Kenya, our core values guide everything we do. They reflect our commitment to our community and our mission to promote mental health and well-being. 

  1. Dynamic.
  2. Brotherhood/Sisterhood.
  3. Integrity 
  4. Inclusivity 
  5. Service to others 
  6. Courage

Team

Board

Maurice Nduranu

Board Member

Managing Director of Flux Capital and currently serves as our Board Chair. He is also the chairman of the CPF Financial Services board. Mr. Nduranu is an advocate of mental health and has generously volunteered his organizational development skills to African non-profit organizations.

Dr. Boniface Chitayi

Board Member

Current president of the Kenya Psychiatric Association and was awarded as the best student in Master of Medicine in Psychiatry at the University of Nairobi in 2017/18. He has experience in public mental health education through various media platforms.

Naomi Senda

Board Member

Communications and development strategist who helps create positive social and economic changes in developing countries. She is the Communications and Knowledge Manager at CORE Group and has extensive experience working with Mental 360 to increase their impact.

Mugambi Kiai

Board Member

Senior Advisor at the Open Society Initiative for East Africa and Regional Director for Article 19. He is a human rights advocate and uses his personal story to inspire others about mental health.

Bright Shitemi

Founder & Executive Director

Founder and Executive Director of Mental 360, a mental health advocacy organization. With a background in program design and communications, he is dedicated to creating scalable solutions for mental health challenges in our society.

Staff

Bright Shitemi

Founder & Executive Director

Mukami Munyoki

Program Manager

Charles Kinyua

Head of Operations and Finance

Fred Ochieng

Programs Officer

Ian Gitaka

Counsellor/Implementation Officer

Ken Kivuva

Graphic Designer

Elmard Rigan

Counselor/Implementation Officer

Diana Odawa

Communication/Administrative Officer

Tiffany Jasmine

Growth and Strategy Associate

Peris Mwaniki

Therapist and Implementation Officer

Mike Kakusu

Accountant

Herman Omune

Monitoring & Evaluation Officer

Join Our Team

Join our team and be part of the movement to deliver mental health care to 10 million people in the next decade!

Careers

Our Wins

Africa Visionary Fellowship

Our Founder Bright Shitemi was selected to join the African Visionary Fellowship by the Segal Family Foundation an exclusive two-year fellowship that offers capacity, community, and connection.

Dovetail Accelerator

Mental 360 participated in the Dovetail Accelerator 2023-24 a program for high potential impact actors in Africa

Policy Advocacy-Mental Health Amendment Bill 2018

Mental 360 played a crucial role in advocating for the Mental Health Amendment Bill 2018 which was signed into law in 2022. This legislative success marked a significant step forward in the fight for better mental health care in Kenya.

Best Growth Plan Idea: Facebook Accelerator

In 2020, Mental 360's BOMA wellness App was recognized as one of the top three growth plan ideas in Africa by the Facebook Accelerator Program. This accolade underscored the organization's innovative approach to expanding mental health support through digital platforms.

Africa Yes Program Social Impact Winner

At Africa Yes 2019, Mental 360 was celebrated for its contributions to mental health advocacy and support, underscoring its leadership and impact in the mental health sector.

Our Culture

Our Business Model

Mental 360 takes a not-for-profit social enterprise model. This is key to long-term sustainability and our effort to reduce donor reliance. Social impact community programs are donor-funded while our services are offered to corporate organizations at price value and to the general public on a sliding scale model (people get to pay what they can afford, and those who cannot afford are assessed and given services for free). Our definition of at-risk persons is not just about their socio-economic situation; we appreciate that mental health challenges affect everyone no matter their background, and we make our services available to all, meeting them at their point of need.

Our Approach

We are aware that well-informed and designed solutions often fail because they do not meet the needs of the target population or engage them in ways they can appreciate. At Mental 360, we have tailor-made our approach to our target audience to deepen our impact and increase our reach. These include:
  • Using storytelling, art (theater, poetry, and music), and experiential learning in delivery: This has proven to be a powerful tool in awareness creation as the engagement with our audience is authentic, relatable, and unforgettable.
  • Human-Centered Design: Our program design and implementation is participatory and flexible for constant iteration to best meet our audience's needs.
  • User-led interventions: Nothing for us, without us. We involve the various groups we work with in representation in the organization. The programs empower the participants to reproduce the training or knowledge in their own spaces.
  • Inclusive: We are non-discriminatory, so our services are open to all persons regardless of age, background, affiliation, or gender.