Integration of mental health into primary care and community health working in Kenya: context, rationale, coverage and sustainability

Rachel Jenkins; David Kiima; Marx Okonji; Frank Njenga; James Kingora; Sarah Lock

Integration of mental health into primary care and community health working in Kenya: context, rationale, coverage and sustainability

Ment Health Fam Med. 2010 Mar;7(1):37-47.

Authors

Rachel Jenkins¹, David Kiima, Marx Okonji, Frank Njenga, James Kingora, Sarah Lock

Affiliation

¹ Professor of Epidemiology and International Mental Health Policy; Director of WHO Collaborating Centre, Kings College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.

PMID: 22477921
PMCID: PMC2925163

Abstract

Integration of mental health into primary care is essential to meet population needs yet faces many challenges if such projects are to achieve impact and be sustainable in low income countries alongside other competing priorities. This paper describes the rationale and progress of a collaborative project in Kenya to train primary care and community health workers about mental health and integrate mental health into their routine work, Within a health systems strengthening approach. So far 1877 health workers have been trained. The paper describes the multiple challenges faced by the project, and reviews the mechanisms deployed which have strengthened its impact and sustainability to date.