Nairobi Clinics Report Increased Depression Consultations

Health officials in Nairobi say that the number of patients coming into local clinics seeking help for depression has risen noticeably, signaling a growing mental health burden in Kenya’s capital city. While no single public report gives precise monthly numbers, stakeholders point to data and trends reflecting higher demand for screening, counselling, and treatment. Experts attribute the surge both to better mental-health awareness and to worsening socioeconomic stresses affecting many residents.
According to the Ministry of Health’s recently launched Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Common Mental Disorders, nearly 42 percent of people attending primary-care settings present with symptoms of severe depression. As the Ministry has integrated mental-health services into its national insurance benefits package, more people now feel empowered to seek care without the financial barriers that previously kept them away.This has helped clinics provide more structured depression diagnosis and follow-up under standardized protocols.
The increased footfall is stretching stretched already limited resources. Kenya is facing a critical shortage of qualified mental-health professionals: according to Capital Business, there are only around 116 psychiatrists serving the entire country, in addition to very few psychologists and mental-health nurses. This scarcity, coupled with a rise in reported mental health conditions such as depression, is making it more difficult for clinics in Nairobi to provide timely and effective care.
Health advocates argue that sustaining this increase in care-seeking will require system-wide changes. They are calling for more investment in mental-health infrastructure, including training non-specialist staff in depression management (as outlined in the Ministry’s clinical guidelines) and expanding capacity at primary-care facilities. As the government continues to roll out its mental health policy under the 2021–2025 Action Plan, integrating mental-wellness services into everyday clinical settings could be key to bridging the gap.