In her address at Kibabii Boys’ high school on Friday during the Kanduyi Constituency Education Day, Uasin Gishu Woman MP Gladys Boss Shollei said she encourages mental health wellness in Kenyan Counties.
The National Assembly deputy speaker pointed out that based on the recent medical camp held in Uasin Gishu County, many young people are facing mental issues asking health facilities to take up the mantle and help address the problem.
“Last week I held a medical camp in Uasin Gishu and from the statistics collected it showed that many young people are battling mental issues,” Shollei noted.
Shollei further asked young people to speak out and seek advice from older people.
She added that the state of mind in which an adolescent and young person makes an informed choice determines the success of a particular intervention in sexual and reproductive health.
“Adolescents and young women who have no power to make a choice over their reproductive life, including rape, negotiating for safe sex, intimate partner violence, and coercive control could face other consequences apart from mental health,” she said.
“Many years ago, we worked with Justice Njoki Ndung’u on the sexual offenses bill which is now an act but we realize that it is still a challenge to implement.” She added
Shollei also applauded the good job done by the teachers saying they should be paid well because of their excellent work.
“I’m a very big supporter of the teachers in the country and they should be the most paid in the country because they do a significant job,” she said.
Mental health has a negative impact on many aspects of the daily lives of the youths, more so the adolescents.
Globally, about 20 percent of adolescents and young people experience mental health problems.
In Kenya, one out of four people who seek healthcare has a mental health condition.
As Kenya cut to the chase to achieve the sustainable development goals 2030 agenda, the truth is, it cannot be fully achieved unless mental health is addressed.
One of the major hindrances to the development of quality mental health services is that we are among the 28 percent of World Health Organization-WHO member countries that do not have a separate budget for mental health.
By Our Reporter
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