Background:

Mental health disorders are a growing problem in Kenya. However, mental health services are largely inaccessible for youth due to lack of targeted funding, limited professional mental health service providers and stigma.

What is our project about?

We Matter Too project aims to address the gap for youth friendly, low cost , community based mental health services, responsive to the need of young people in Kenya.

What did we do?

In the first phase, we worked with local musicians, youth and mental health experts to develop mental health themed music content.

We commissioned five musicians to compose and produce  five mental health themed music in local languages used in Western Kenya.

We recruited and trained young barbers on common mental health disorders, mental health first aid and basic helping skills.  Using music as an entry point to spark converstation around mental health with their clients, the barbers facilitated the delivery of DWM community mental health intervention to their youth clients aged 18-29 years with mild or moderate psychological distress.

Learn more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0jvnjbj