Teachers are sounding the alarm about rising cases of mental illness

The Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA) has raised the alarm over the rising cases of mental illness among Kenyan teachers.

Speaking at a press conference at the Serena Hotel on Monday, May 6, 2024, Benta Opande, CEO of KEWOTA, stated that the issue has reached alarming levels, negatively impacting the quality of education in Kenyan schools.

“It is estimated that 30% of Kenyan teachers experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. Since 2022, we have lost more than 60 teachers to suicide.” said Opande.

The association has advocated for the establishment of comprehensive support systems to help teachers cope with the increasing mental health challenges arising from financial, family and work environment factors.

“If you are a teacher, society expects you to be a role model, so it denies that role if you say you have mental health problems,” Opande noted.

“KEWOTA is committed to creating a supportive environment where teachers feel empowered to seek help and access the resources they need without appearing before the employer.”

In addition, the lobby group has organized a nationwide mental health awareness walk called “10,000 Steps for My Teacher,” scheduled for May 26, 2024, to raise awareness about the growing mental health issues among teachers and students.

The walk will take place simultaneously in Nairobi, Nakuru and Migori counties.

This initiative, supported by the Teachers Service Commission and the Ministry of Education, along with other partners, aims to raise funds for the construction of a mental health complex in Nakuru Province. This facility will provide clinical services to both educators and the general public.

“The Nakuru provincial government has offered land for the construction of a facility in the province and we have also signed an MoU with an organization that will deploy experts at this center,” said Opande.

The teachers further urged the Ministry of Education to embrace ICT and enable teachers to conduct online classes as a means of mitigating the closure of schools due to the adverse weather conditions.