The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Narok Women Representative Ann Saramei has launched an appeal for funds to establish a mental health awareness desk to support teachers grappling with emotional and psychological challenges.
Speaking to the Education News in Narok town, Saramei said the desk will serve as a safe space for teachers to seek help, counseling, and guidance, adding that many educators continue to suffer in silence due to fear of stigma or lack of proper mental health support systems.
She emphasized that teachers face enormous pressure in their daily duties from heavy workloads and classroom stress to financial and family struggles yet few have an avenue to share their struggles or seek professional help.
“Many teachers wake up every morning to shape lives while silently battling depression, anxiety, and stress. It is time we acknowledged that our teachers are human too, and they need care and support,” she said.
Saramei explained that the proposed mental health desk will not only benefit teachers but will also positively impact the wider community.
She noted that teachers play a central role in society, and when they are mentally healthy; their influence extends beyond the classroom to families and communities.
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“When a teacher’s mind is at peace, learners perform better, homes are happier, and society grows stronger,” she added.
The initiative, she said, will involve partnerships with counseling professionals, local health experts, government agencies, private sectors and other stakeholders to provide regular mental health
awareness programmes, peer support sessions, and referrals for specialized care.
Saramei called on well-wishers, government agencies, and corporate organizations to support the noble idea, saying that investing in the mental well-being of teachers is an investment in the future of the nation.
She urged KNUT members across the country to embrace open conversations about mental health and to break the culture of silence that has left many struggling alone.
“We must normalize seeking help. Strong teachers build strong schools, and strong schools build a strong country,” Saramei remarked.
If successful, the mental health awareness desk will be the first of its kind under the KNUT Narok Branch, setting a model for other regions to emulate in supporting teachers’ holistic well-being.
By Philip Koech
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