Be a friend to ikOkay Africa
As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others. Lend a hand for life today and always acknowledge that Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
SUPPORT THE PROGRAM4th MAY 2024 JOIN THE CYCLE TO MACHAKOS as we advocate Wellness and Road Safety!
What a great way to start MAY-World Mental Health Awareness Month with the 2024 Theme aligned to Physical Fitness!! CHEKI TUBONGE MASAKU!
REGISTER NOWJOIN THE CYCLE TO MACHAKOS as we advocate Wellness and Road Safety!
What a great way to start MAY-World Mental Health Awareness Month with the 2024 Theme aligned to Physical Fitness!! CHEKI TUBONGE MASAKU!
%d
Days
%h
Hours
%m
Minutes
%s
Seconds
Our Projects
Mission
To educate, fight causes and change minds about mental health and its impact on families
ikOkay Africa promotes improved mental well being for all individuals and families in the Region through education, support and advocacy.
In pursuit of our Mission, we strive to provide education and opportunities for individuals to identify early warning signs of mental illness and subsequently provide programs and an environment that supports recovery and improves resilience for these individuals.
Vision
Like our Mission, our Vision is ambitious. It describes what we believe to be a future we can help create, one which has significant improvements in the state of mental well being for all.
We envision a climate for Mental Well Being in Meru that is a model for the rest of the nation. In this climate we are a community that recognizes mental health as an essential part of overall well being. We understand that mental illness, like physical illness, is a medically treatable condition, it can develop in anyone, it is preventable, and those who experience mental illness can return to good health. As a result, there is no room for stigma in the Country.
Facts And Statistics
One of the biggest challenge is low awareness of mental disorders particularly, the symptoms among the persons suffering from the condition and the community at large. “The rising number of mental health related cases in the country, such as depression, and other mental illnesses, some of which ended up in suicide cases, have been a concern to the Government,” Mutahi said.
The following are some of the most frequent mental illnesses worth mentioning.
Bipolar Disorder
Changes in mood, energy, and activity levels are common in people with bipolar disorder, and they can make day-to-day life difficult.
Bipolar disorder can severely impair a person's life, but the severity of the effects varies from person to person. Many persons with this illness can live a full and productive life with the right care and support.
Depression
Depression is now the largest cause of mental illness in the world, accounting for 10% of all cases, and is a substantial contribution to the global disease burden, accounting for 4.3 percent of all cases.
The sickness can affect anyone at any time. It causes emotional suffering and interferes with people's capacity to perform even the most basic daily chores, with often disastrous repercussions for relationships with family and friends, as well as their ability to earn a living.
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health concerns in Kenya. Fear, dread, or uneasiness are all symptoms of anxiety.
Exhaustion, tension, an elevated heartbeat, and restlessness may be experienced by people who are afflicted.
However, for some people, this state of mind is a permanent one, which is not good. Anxiety disorders are diagnosed in such persons.
In Kenya, one out of every ten people is estimated to be suffering from a mental illness. Among patients receiving normal outpatient services, the number rises to one in every four (20-25%) people.
Real Life Stories
Frequently Asked Questions
Mental health questions
We all have mental health which is made up of our beliefs, thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Challenges or problems with your mental health can arise from psychological, biological, and social, issues, as well as life events.
It is often more realistic and helpful to find out what helps with the issues you face. Talking, counselling, medication, friendships, exercise, good sleep and nutrition, and meaningful occupation can all help.
If your beliefs , thoughts , feelings or behaviours have a significant impact on your ability to function in what might be considered a normal or ordinary way, it would be important to seek help.
This may depend on your relationship with them. Gently encouraging someone to seek appropriate support would be helpful to start with.