Our Community Mental Health programs are designed for sustainability at scale, placing persons with lived experience at the center of our interventions.
We provide on-demand, accessible, and inclusive therapy services and emergency mental health response via our national helpline. Call us on +254710360360
Our psychosocial support services are targeted for at-risk youth aged 18-35 but are not limited to this community. Sessions are conducted at our offices or in our community wellness centres. Support is offered on a tiered model and if free for vulnerable and economically challenged groups.
We are Located in Nairobi, Langa’ta, at Jambo Estate and our helpline is open weekdays from 8 AM to 5 PM. We are working to make this a 24/7 mental health support line.
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We have created user-led and community-owned wellness hubs to offer a safe haven for mental health conversations, psychosocial support and group mental health therapy sessions.
Our community wellness centres are led by youth with lived experience who are offered Mental Health support and training in psychological first aid and community mobilization. The centres provide a space for Mental Health support groups, emergency response, one-on-one therapy, referrals and linkages.
Our community wellness centres are created through stakeholder engagements i.e. the clergy, local political leaders, community elders, community health workers, youth groups, and local government officials.
This promotes buy-in and a holistic approach that allows the community to be part of crafting their solutions.
By leveraging existing Community Health Centers, we minimize costs associated with constructing and equipping standalone mental health clinics. We take advantage of existing community structures and networks to ensure continued access to mental health services.
Most of our community wellness centres are located in hard-to-reach, financially strained, and underserved communities. A community centre with 10 Rafikis serves a whole community.
“As a lived experience youth. I am excited to be a youth peer mental health champion. Many young people in my community are affected by poor mental health and now with Mental 360’s Community Wellness Centre, we have a safe haven to access support.”
– Victor Amunya
Would you like to partner with us in setting up a Community Wellness Center in an underserved community?
Mental health challenges start manifesting in the adolescent years for a majority of people. According to research by the National Institute of Health the first onset of mental disorders occurs in childhood or adolescence. In Kenya, many are not aware and therefore remain undiagnosed and untreated leading to severity-persistence of illnesses later in life.
The lack of adequate policies and resources by the government to support mental health in schools worsens mental health disorders. We have co-designed the Boma Wellness Clubs program in collaboration with students, mental health professionals, teachers, and program designers in schools to support adolescent mental health .
These clubs serve as sanctuaries within secondary schools, offering students a safe space to explore mental health and well-being tailored to their unique contexts. The clubs are designed to fit seamlessly into school calendars and programs.
50% of mental disorders begin by the age of 14.
The Boma Wellness Clubs are designed to support school counselors and improve wellness in schools. According to the Kenya National Adolescent Mental Health Survey:
In the past 12 months, over two-fifths (44.3%) of adolescents experienced a mental health problem, with one in eight (12.2%) meeting DSM-5 criteria for a mental disorder. Among specific issues, anxiety was prevalent, with 26.2% of males and 27.2% of females reporting symptoms.
However, despite the high prevalence of mental health issues, service utilization was low, with only 11.1% of affected adolescents seeking support or counseling for emotional and behavioral problems. Overall, less than one-tenth (8.7%) of adolescents utilized mental health services in the past year.
These high statistics in mental health needs and the low use of services were the incentive behind the curriculum. The Boma Wellness Clubs aim to bridge the gap in mental health services.
The Boma wellness program has been a revelation to me as a student. I learned about coping skills that help me deal with my mental health. I have also been able to support other students who were struggling. It is exciting to know that we now have a space for students by students to discuss mental health and be there for each other.
– Anonymous Student
Would you like to partner with us in scaling mental wellness clubs in schools?
“Cradle Arts” is a collaborative effort between Mental360 and Headspace254 in Kenya, targeting the reduction of mental health stigma and creating Mental Health awareness through the arts. The initiative hosts an annual event that uses art for awareness creation, advocacy and educating communities about mental health.
Art is a powerful tool for breaking down complex topics and carrying a message in a way that reaches deeply into people’s psyche. Cradle Arts does that – work with artists to break the shackles of stigma and deliver positive messages to communities in varied contexts
The inaugural 2019 event involved 30 youth artists and attracted 800 festival-goers. It featured storytelling, poetry, music, art exhibitions, and theatre. Part of the audience had representatives from Parliament, the Ministry of Health, and Corporate institutions. The event provided the platform for launching the Many Faces of Mental Health in Kenya book that pushed for the Mental Health Amendment Bill 2018 signed into law in 2022. This was a significant win for artivism.
The Cradle Arts platform will continue pushing for the implementation of the new mental health law and other issues e.g. decriminalization of suicide, human rights, and other issues affecting vulnerable groups.
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Derived from the concept of a communal gathering space, a Boma, traditionally found in the African Great Lakes region, symbolizes community decision-making, support, safety, and resource sharing. At Mental 360, we’ve digitally recreated this spirit through the Boma App, a user-led digital platform designed to strengthen social support systems and enhance access to quality mental health care.
In Kenya we have an internet and smartphone penetration rate of over 80%, opening a great opportunity to leverage technology for social impact.
The Boma App is more than a digital platform; it is the gateway to long-term sustainability. The app amplifies the reach and impact of our organization’s programs while also allowing us to operationalize our business plan at scale. Boma will help Mental 360 reduce donor reliance by over 80% in the next decade.
The Boma Wellness app emerged among Africa’s top three growth plan projects in the Facebook Accelerator Program , showcasing its potential impact and innovation.
Want to support or hear more about Boma? Email Us or Get Involded by clicking the button below.
