Experts Urge Men to Seek Mental Health Support

Mental health professionals in Kenya are calling on men to break the silence and seek help, warning that too many are suffering in isolation. According to recent data, over 60% of Kenyan men struggling with mental illness may not realize it—or refuse to seek treatment. Health officials say this reluctance is fueled by cultural norms that equate emotional vulnerability with weakness.
Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai has emphasized the need to end the stigma around mental health, saying that Kenya must adopt a human-rights-based approach that encourages men to speak up and access care. Clinicians note that many men hide symptoms of depression by working harder, using alcohol, or internalizing their pain—behaviors that can mask deeper issues like anxiety or trauma.
Advocacy groups are partnering with community-based organisations to make mental health support more accessible to men, especially in low-income areas. The Young African Women Initiative (YAWI), for instance, is running counselling programmes that specifically target men in low‑income settlements, where the pressure to stay strong can stop men from getting help. Psychologists in the country are also urging the establishment and expansion of men’s support groups and safe spaces where emotion and vulnerability are normalized.
Looking ahead, experts say more must be done to shift societal expectations around masculinity and mental health. As part of this, they’re pushing for public campaigns to dismantle stigma, greater funding for mental health services tailored for men, and stronger engagement of community leaders in promoting the message that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.