{"id":2868,"date":"2022-09-13T06:04:48","date_gmt":"2022-09-13T06:04:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/countysplash.co.ke\/?p=2868"},"modified":"2022-09-13T06:04:48","modified_gmt":"2022-09-13T06:04:48","slug":"mental-health-wellness-center-set-up-to-tackle-mental-illness-in-bungoma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/horizonnews.co.ke\/?p=2868","title":{"rendered":"Mental Health Wellness Center set up to tackle mental illness in Bungoma"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Anne Chebet, Bungoma<\/code><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A group of professionals and community leaders in\nBungoma County has set up a community-based wellness center that seeks to help\npeople living with mental illnesses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The center, located adjacent to Wamalwa Kijana\nSecondary school in Kanduyi, Bungoma, is set to provide psychosocial support to\nmental health patients and help them in their journey to recovery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cApart from the referral hospital, there are no other organizations where the patients can be referred to, necessitating the need to have an alternative institution,\" said Wekesa<\/code><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Phillip Wekesa (Chairman), revealed that they were motivated by the increasing number of mental health issues that always go unattended in society. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other board members are Dr Caren Sumba, Duncan Wandabwa and David Kapten<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need organizations that can offer mental health services\nand minimize stigma in society because the prevalence is alarming,” he\nsaid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Philip Wekesa<\/code><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a professional social worker, Mr. Wekesa reveals\nthat he was determined, together with his friend, to give back to the community\nby enhancing access to mental health services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople are losing their lives to mental illnesses.\nSome have lost jobs, and we cannot continue denying that mental illness is\nwithin us. There is no better way we could give back to the community than\nstarting a program that directly impacts lives,\u201d he said<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program director revealed that they are partnering\nwith Bungoma County Referral hospital, whose psychiatrists and other mental\nhealth practitioners will help in offering mental health services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked Kenya among the top five African countries with the highest prevalence of mental illnesses, noting that the scale of the problem requires urgent attention. <\/code><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

He acknowledged that the referral hospital is\ncurrently offering the services, but the healthcare professionals are\noverwhelmed by a large number of patients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cApart from the referral hospital, there are no other\norganizations where the patients can be referred to, necessitating the need to\nhave an alternative institution.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Bungoma Mental Wellness Centre<\/code><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Acknowledging the role of families in mental health,\nMr. Wekesa said that there would be programs targeting families and putting\nthem in a better place to handle their loved ones who battle mental health\nissues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted that the majority of patients battling mental\nillnesses experience difficulties forming and maintaining relationships, adding\nthat the program will give them a chance to form fulfilling relationships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost mental health patients do not form satisfying\nrelationships because the people around them may not understand their needs.\nWhen they meet others like them, they are more likely to establish more\nfulfilling relationships, which contributes to their wellness,\u201d the director\nsaid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apart from professional mental health services, the\nprogram seeks to offer home care services where patients will access\npersonalized care that will contribute to their independence, comfort, and fast\nrecovery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The director challenged families and community members\nto embrace people living with mental illnesses and support them fully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe community should not discriminate or stigmatize\nmental health patients. We also need to understand that some of the illnesses\ncan be treated, others can be managed well, and people can lead normal lives\ndespite battling the illnesses,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He welcomed ideas from different stakeholders on\nstrategies to improve their services and enhance the quality of care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked Kenya\namong the top five African countries with the highest prevalence of mental\nillnesses, noting that the scale of the problem requires urgent attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

End<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Anne Chebet, Bungoma A group of professionals and community leaders in Bungoma County has set up a community-based wellness center that seeks to help people living with mental illnesses. The center, located adjacent to Wamalwa Kijana Secondary school in Kanduyi, Bungoma, is set to provide psychosocial support to mental health patients and help them […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2870,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-kenya-news"],"yoast_head":"\nMental Health Wellness Center set up to tackle mental illness in Bungoma - Horizon News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/horizonnews.co.ke\/?p=2868\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mental Health Wellness Center set up to tackle mental illness in Bungoma - Horizon News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Anne Chebet, Bungoma A group of professionals and community leaders in Bungoma County has set up a community-based wellness center that seeks to help people living with mental illnesses. 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