Experiential mental Health Initiative

Our world is reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, wars, displacement, and the climate emergency, all of which have consequences for the well-being of world citizens. The rates of people experiencing suicidal ideation are increasing globally, and about one in eight people live with a mental disorder; it is the leading cause of years lived with disability (YLDs), accounting for one in every six YLDs globally, according to WHO. 75% to 95% of people with mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries cannot access mental health services at all, and governments spend, on average, just over 2% of their health budgets on mental health, resulting in a treatment gap of 80%. In addition Mental health disorders account for 13% of the global burden of disease, and this figure will rise to nearly15% by 2030 according to WHO 

The Ministry of Health estimates that 25% of Kenyans have a mental health issue at any given time. However, according to a WHO 2017 report, the Kenyan government spends only 0.01% of its total health expenditure on mental health. As a result of this treatment gap, WHO estimates that 80% of those affected do not receive the professional assistance they need. 

Generally, people with mental health illnesses are highlighted as a vulnerable group subject to stigma and social isolation, human rights violations, and exclusion from policies and decision-making that affect them (WHO, 2010). In many places, formal mental health services do not exist; Even when they are available, they are often inaccessible or unaffordable, and too often, they are subjected to human rights abuses by some of the very health services responsible for their care. As a result, people will often choose to endure mental distress without treatment rather than risk facing prejudice and ostracization that comes with accessing mental health services. This problem worsens medically underserved populations and impoverished and marginalized communities.

For decades, the design and implementation of mental health services and interventions has been done without the input of those who use and require the services. For the few that have, people with lived experience are not included at the decision-making table. This has resulted in mental health services and interventions that do not address the specific needs of people experiencing  mental health illnesses, negatively impacting them. 

Our solution taps into Lived Experience Experts ( a person who has a personal experience with a mental illness or a caregiver who has intimate experience in supporting a person living with a mental condition).These experts have special person-centered knowledge gained from first-hand experience with a mental condition which is often missed within the mental health field and have essential skills and knowledge beyond just the experience of a mental condition and recovery. It encompasses an understanding of marginalization, oppression, and discrimination. 

This Experts provides this knowledge and skills through mental health trainings. Where the lived experience experts are the lead trainers supported by experts by training. This trainings are done virtually taking advantage of the development of online platforms such as zoom, google meet, etc. during the pandemic that has enabled us to do so much virtually.

It incorporates storytelling, as stories have the power to elicit emotional responses, put a face to an issue, connect us to deeper issues, and humanize us, resulting in inspiration, teaching, clarification, and mobilization. The Experts share their lived experiences as practical examples. 

The Experts use the platform as well to provide psychoeducation services ( the process of providing education and information to those seeking or receiving mental health services) 

Lastly, provision of psychosocial support services:

1. Support groups. Run by trained peers and focus on emotional support, sharing experiences, education and practical activities
2. one-to-one support .meeting trained peer to talk about how you’re feeling or to set goals.

The main beneficiaries are young people aged 15 to 35 who have mental health conditions in Nakuru, particularly in low-income settings and rural .By just having a mental health illness, due to cultural beliefs, it is extremely difficult to live with a mental health condition in Africa.

Most Africans view mental health illness as a result of an external attack on the person. Those experiencing  mental health illnesses are thought to be under a spell or bewitched, and as a result, they face stigma and social isolation, human rights violations, and exclusion from policies and decision-making that affect them, limiting their participation in all aspects of society, including social, economic, and political aspects. In addition to the lack of mental health services as a result many choose to suffer in silence rather than face the stigma and discrimination that comes with mental health illness. This problem is exuberated for those living in low income settings and those in rural areas.

It expands coverage and access to mental health services and information ( mental health training, psychoeducation services, and psychosocial services). Reduce the cost of access to services and information for beneficiaries because all other services are free excepted the mental health training services which are costed 50-60% below the market rate; the only cost is internet data.

Persons living with mental health conditions empowerment socially, economically, and politically as a result of  psychoeducation, psychosocial support and mental health trainings, which opens up conversations about mental health in order to normalize its prevalence, change people's attitudes toward mental health, and influence how people interact with people living with mental health conditions. This will have an impact on those living with mental health conditions creating a safe environment that allows them to participate in all aspects of social, economic, and political life, as well as the appreciation of Lived Experience Expertise. 

All of our team members have lived experience and are experts in various fields, and they are all young people, with the youngest being 23 years old and the oldest being 30 years old, and all having grown up in different areas of Nakuru county where the initiative is being implemented. With the main beneficiaries of the initiative being young people living with mental health conditions, we are uniquely placed to understand, support, and address their needs.

The solution is homegrown, with the organization founded and run by young people with lived experience. It is co-designed by the team leaders and people living with mental health conditions; as a result, the solution has been heavily influenced by people with lived experience in the community, and it is designed to be culturally sensitive.

It takes a participatory approach in which beneficiaries are given the opportunity to provide feedback and participate in its evaluation and implementation on a regular basis.

The solution is currently serving 672 at risk or venerable young people to mental health conditions 

The main goal is to seek mentorship (capacity building ) to enable scaling up of the solution and this includes both non-monetary and Monetary support

Being a young organization we have weak organizational system this include: 

1.   Accounting practices and system such as financial policy, accounting software, and the day to day accounting practices 
2. Monitoring Evaluation and Learning system, this include Monitoring and evaluation software, How to best measure impact, and how to utilizes the M&E system for learning 
3. Human Recourse. How do source human capital, manage and develop 
4.  Marketing of the solution to increase the solution client base
5. Monetary -the solution activities are currently being funded through contribution of the members and this is not sustainable both in the short term and long term  
6.  Partnerships to assist in training on refining “deep scaling strategies” to enhance the health and social value of the existing model.

For the past decade, mental health services and interventions have been implemented and delivered without the input of those who need or use them. Our approach prioritizes those who use the services (lived experience experts) and are supported by experts by training.

With its success, it will alter how traditional mental health services are delivered by utilizing people who have  mental health experiences as reassures  and view the as people who a lot to contribute in the mental health field.

Secondly it shift mental health services from just being services that can only be provided in persons but as well virtual and be of the same quality and impact in peoples life. This will lead to a change in mindset and the embracement of Tele services 

We will have implemented a functional grassroot, social support systems for people with mental illnesses and their families within the next year, as well as an advocacy program that is effective and delivered to the targeted community. Peer support group members support each other, and trained lived experience experts supported by Experts by training  providing mental health trainings, psychoeducation, and one-on-one support services. We will collaborate with like-minded organizations and community elders to ensure that we continue to build on the community's goodwill and support.   

There will be regular consultations with all stakeholders, as well as monitoring and evaluation to determine whether the solution is on track to meet its impact,  If the solution is meeting  the needs of the direct beneficiaries, and how is change taking place. Within five years, there will be Improved functioning, quality of life, and social participation for people with mental illnesses and caregivers who can play their roles effectively, as well as a community with improved mental health knowledge and attitudes toward people with mental illnesses

• Number of young people trained on mental Health
• Number of peer support group members 
• Number of Clients seeking psychosocial support and psychoeducation services 
• Improved self-esteem, confidence among peer support group members and live a productive life free of stigma 
• Improved Knowledge on mental health and change of attitude towards persons living with mental health in the community
• Level of satisfaction on quality of mental health services in the county 

Activities 

• Mental health trainings
• Psychoeducation 
• Psychosocial support skills  training 
• Psychosocial support (peer support groups and one on one support )
• Peer led advocacy 

Outputs 

• service delivery 

Short-term outcomes 

• Improved community mental health knowledge, attitude, and behavior
• Improve social support systems for people with mental illnesses and their families.
• Advocacy program that is effective and delivered to the targeted community

Long-term outcomes 

• Improved functioning, quality of life with increased social participation, and living a stigma-free life for people with mental health conditions  

Impact 

• Improved Health and social participation of persons living with mental health conditions 

" Research and experience show that peer support specialists have a transformative effect on both individuals and systems. Peer support has been shown to Improve quality of life, Improve engagement and satisfaction with services and supports, Improve whole health, including chronic conditions like diabetes, Decrease hospitalizations and inpatient days, and Reduce the overall cost of services '' Mental Health America 

''Person(s) with lived experience (PWLE) are regarded as ‘experts by experience’ in the scope of their first-hand experience with a diagnosis or health condition and including PWLE in a patient’s care and treatment has significant contributions to the patient’s treatment and overall outcome'' Bio medical central 

Lived experience knowledge which goes beyond just the experience of a mental condition and recovery but as well the  understanding of marginalization, oppression, and discrimination.

Zoom is a communications platform that connects users via video, audio, phone, and chat. Zoom requires an internet connection and a compatible device.

WhatsApp is an instant messaging application. The application allows users to send not only texts but also images, videos, audios, audio recordings (voice memos), documents, as well as calls and video calls with several participants at once, among other functions.

The organization has created a friendly environment that sets the tone and sends the message that diversity and inclusivity are issues that must be discussed and acted on. The organization's constitution states that no one should be discriminated against because of their ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, disability, or other characteristics, and that the organization should embrace diversity in all of its activities. We are aware that the constitution does not clearly describe how this diversity and inclusivity is to be achieved, which is why we are developing a diversity and inclusivity policy.  

The organization's current membership and leadership team has incorporated diversity, with 80% of its membership and leadership made up of people living with psychosocial disabilities. 95% is made up of young people under the age of 30, 71% is made up of women, and because we live in a society where there exists ethnicity hostility  we have ensured that the team is made up persons of different ethnicities from different social backgrounds.

Due to a lack of investment in mental health, mental health services are almost non-existent, and the few that are available are far away, of poor quality, and for the few for profit that provide better services are too expensive for the majority of the population.

Five out of every six Kenyans have a mental health condition, with the majority lacking the skills and tools to care for their mental health and not knowing where to seek help. Our services are provided in accordance with WHO quality rights standards, and are 50-60% less expensive than the market rate. The use of technology increases the coverage of these services, while decreasing the cost and time required to access them. 

We are seeking funds for our work through individual and cooperate donations, grants, and fundraising. However, we recognize that relying on these sources of revenue is not sustainable, and we seek to achieve sustainability by providing subsidization of our lived experience mental health consultancy services, which include mental health trainings, lay counselor trainings, and psychosocial support skills training, as well as selfcare services.

We have received 1000USD in donations form individuals  and raised 9USD in revenue for mental health training services