Every mother deserves support: strengthening maternal mental health care in Kenya

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For many women in Kenya, pregnancy and childbirth are a time of hope and new beginnings. Yet for some mothers, this period is accompanied by mental health challenges. 

Feelings of worry, sadness, and emotional distress may arise during pregnancy and after childbirth but often go unrecognized by health professionals, thus limiting access to the mental health care that women need.

Globally, one in five women experience a mental health condition during pregnancy or within the first year after childbirth, and up to 20% of women with a perinatal mental health condition experience suicidal thoughts or acts of self-harm. 

Recognizing this urgent need for mental health care, Kenya has committed to integrating mental health support into routine health services and advancing maternal and child health. The Kenya Mental Health Policy 2015-2030 and the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH-N) Investment Case increasingly recognize maternal mental health as an essential component of improving health and well-being outcomes for women, children and families.  

As a result, the Ministry of Health, with support from WHO Kenya, trained a multidisciplinary team of 37 health professionals from nine counties to be Trainers of Trainers on the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) Intervention Guide. The training aims to strengthen the capacity of frontline health workers to identify, assess and manage common mental health conditions, ensuring that women receive mental health support through the health services they already access.

“A mother's mental well-being is not a luxury; it is a prerequisite for healthy families and thriving societies. Kenya is demonstrating leadership by recognizing maternal mental health as a core component of quality maternal and child health care, and WHO remains committed to supporting this transformative agenda,” Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, WHO Representative a.i. to Kenya. 

While opening the training in Machakos, Dr Mercy Karanja, Head of the Division of Mental Health at the Ministry of Health, underscored the importance of integrating mental health across the continuum of care.

“The future of mental health care lies in integration. Every contact with the health system, from pregnancy through early childhood, should be an opportunity to identify, support and respond to mental health needs,” said Dr. Karanja. “By embedding mental health across all levels of care, we can close the treatment gap and advance Universal Health Coverage through holistic, people-centred services that address both physical and mental health.”

For county health professionals, the training reflected realities they encounter every day. Across the country, mental health challenges among pregnant women and new mothers often remain hidden, particularly among young mothers and those facing social and economic pressures.

“Too many mothers, especially teenagers, are silently battling mental health challenges after childbirth. We have seen tragic consequences when they don't get the support they need,” said Faith Osiany, Deputy Adolescent Health Coordinator, Migori County.

In Kajiado County, Timothy Tinini, Mental Health Coordinator, narrated how climate-related shocks have affected the pastoralist community, leading to economic pressures that have placed additional stress on women and families, sometimes leading to increased gender-based violence. In Garissa, Nurta Omar shared that stigma and cultural beliefs around mental health challenges continue to prevent many people from seeking care until mental illness reaches an advanced stage. 

The newly trained professionals are expected to cascade the training to other health care workers across their counties, thereby multiplying the programme's impact and expanding access to mental health services for women and families.

“Mental health support should not be limited to specialist facilities. Through the WHO mhGAP Intervention Guide, frontline health workers are equipped to provide mental health support and connect women to specialized care when needed, bringing services closer to families and communities,” said Dr Makeba Shiroya, Technical Officer for Child and Adolescent Health, WHO Kenya.

By bringing mental health care closer to communities, the story can change from one of missed opportunities to one of early support, hope and better outcomes for mothers and their children.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.