Young Kenyans sink into depression as tough economy scatters families - report
One in five adolescents in Kenya has experienced four or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including abuse, neglect, and family instability, placing them at significantly higher risk of depression, anxiety, and bullying.
A study led by the Shamiri Institute and the Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) at Aga Khan University has revealed alarming levels of childhood trauma among Kenyan adolescents, raising red flags about a looming youth mental health crisis that is partly linked to broken families due to harsh economic times.
“Childhood adversity is a public health crisis that threatens the well-being and potential of our entire generation,” said Prof. Zul Merali, Founding director of the Brain and Mind Institute.
“Through the need to elevate research-informed solutions that can help Kenyan children not only survive adversity but thrive despite it.”
One in five adolescents exposed to multiple ACEs
According to the report, 23.9% of adolescents who experienced multiple ACEs showed moderate to severe symptoms of depression, while 21.4% showed similar levels of anxiety.
Adolescents with only one surviving parent had 18% higher adversity scores. Those struggling academically were 15% more likely to have experienced ACEs.
A strong link between ACEs and bullying was observed, especially among boys, highlighting gender-specific vulnerabilities.
Tom Osborn, Founder and CEO of the Shamiri Institute, is emphasising the urgency of systemic change.
“Young people in Kenya are navigating enormous emotional burdens. As a society, we can’t afford to look away.”
Depression, anxiety, and bullying
Another report by Science Direct shows that family poverty is indirectly and significantly associated with primary school-aged children’s poor behavioural and socio-emotional outcomes through caregiver functioning.
According to the study, since the middle childhood years are a critical developmental stage in building socio-emotional skills, family-based interventions that support family interactions or parental mental health may help mitigate the negative impact.
Households in the country, like those elsewhere on the continent, continue to feel the heat of a disrupted economy that was worsened by the aftermath of Covid-19, which saw many businesses close and millions rendered jobless.
Family instability and economic hardship fuel adversity
Counselling psychologist Maryanne Wamae says that the number of people seeking her services has been on the rise over the past five years, with couples seeking to mend fences, young people aged 17-25, and children aged 11-16 years topping the list.
According to Wamae, the economic disruption experienced over the past two decades is slowly manifesting in families, with children caught in the midst of it.
Although there is no specific report that points out the primary cause of dysfunctional families in Kenya, globally, money is widely known as one of the leading causes of divorce.
For instance, it is estimated that financial problems contribute to 20-40% of all divorces.
That means that for every 10 marriages that end in divorce, four of them are due to financial issues. Typically, around 41% of divorced Gen Xers, along with 29% of divorced Boomers, state that the reason their marriages ended was due to financial disagreements.
Impact of domestic violence on children’s well-being
According to Aga Khan University Hospital, domestic violence is one of the environmental factors that may not be physically directed at children within the family but have a direct impact on them.
It adds that children who witness violence at home experience mental, emotional and social challenges that predispose them to mental illness.
“They are likely to be victims of child abuse and or perpetrators of violence later in their adulthood. The impact of domestic violence on children is likely to manifest in behavioral challenges, low school grades, criminal and antisocial behavior,’’ the study presented at the “Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Financial stress linked to family breakdowns
The World Health Organisation estimates that 1 billion children aged 12–17 have experienced violence of one kind or another, most of which is perpetrated within the home environment.
It is in this sense that children are often referred to as silent victims of violence and abuse.
The report recommends integrating ACE-10 screening into routine school health services, alongside the expansion of school-based mental health programmes.
This, experts say, will mark a significant shift in treating childhood adversity not just as a health concern but also as a barrier to educational achievement and long-term well-being.
Personal testimonies underscore the urgency for action
Wangui Wanjuki, a youth mental health advocate, shared a moving personal testimony about the long-term effects of unaddressed childhood trauma, calling for more inclusive, grounded policy approaches.
“I experienced ACEs in the form of physical abuse, gender-based violence and parental alienation,” Wanjuki said.
“It is crucial not to create policies in isolation. We must involve those with lived experience to ensure that solutions are not just good on paper, but transformative in practice.”
As Kenya grapples with rising youth mental health concerns, the BMI–Shamiri collaboration marks a pivotal step in catalysing research-driven, trauma-informed interventions that are responsive to the real experiences of young people.
Experts warn that if the situation is not addressed, it is likely to explode into a national security issue as rebel youths, confronted by socio-economic harsh problems, turn to crime and drug abuse to cope, day by day.
According to the report, the overall prevalence of different types of suicidal ideation was 22.6 per cent, major depression was found in 20%, and affectivity, psychosis and stress were found in 10.4, 8.7 and 26%, respectively.
Female gender, major depression, stress, affectivity and psychosis and being in high school were significant predictors of suicidal ideation. - The Star
A study led by the Shamiri Institute and the Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) at Aga Khan University has revealed alarming levels of childhood trauma among Kenyan adolescents, raising red flags about a looming youth mental health crisis that is partly linked to broken families due to harsh economic times.
“Childhood adversity is a public health crisis that threatens the well-being and potential of our entire generation,” said Prof. Zul Merali, Founding director of the Brain and Mind Institute.
“Through the need to elevate research-informed solutions that can help Kenyan children not only survive adversity but thrive despite it.”
One in five adolescents exposed to multiple ACEs
According to the report, 23.9% of adolescents who experienced multiple ACEs showed moderate to severe symptoms of depression, while 21.4% showed similar levels of anxiety.
Adolescents with only one surviving parent had 18% higher adversity scores. Those struggling academically were 15% more likely to have experienced ACEs.
A strong link between ACEs and bullying was observed, especially among boys, highlighting gender-specific vulnerabilities.
Tom Osborn, Founder and CEO of the Shamiri Institute, is emphasising the urgency of systemic change.
“Young people in Kenya are navigating enormous emotional burdens. As a society, we can’t afford to look away.”
Depression, anxiety, and bullying
Another report by Science Direct shows that family poverty is indirectly and significantly associated with primary school-aged children’s poor behavioural and socio-emotional outcomes through caregiver functioning.
According to the study, since the middle childhood years are a critical developmental stage in building socio-emotional skills, family-based interventions that support family interactions or parental mental health may help mitigate the negative impact.
Households in the country, like those elsewhere on the continent, continue to feel the heat of a disrupted economy that was worsened by the aftermath of Covid-19, which saw many businesses close and millions rendered jobless.
Family instability and economic hardship fuel adversity
Counselling psychologist Maryanne Wamae says that the number of people seeking her services has been on the rise over the past five years, with couples seeking to mend fences, young people aged 17-25, and children aged 11-16 years topping the list.
According to Wamae, the economic disruption experienced over the past two decades is slowly manifesting in families, with children caught in the midst of it.
Although there is no specific report that points out the primary cause of dysfunctional families in Kenya, globally, money is widely known as one of the leading causes of divorce.
For instance, it is estimated that financial problems contribute to 20-40% of all divorces.
That means that for every 10 marriages that end in divorce, four of them are due to financial issues. Typically, around 41% of divorced Gen Xers, along with 29% of divorced Boomers, state that the reason their marriages ended was due to financial disagreements.
Impact of domestic violence on children’s well-being
According to Aga Khan University Hospital, domestic violence is one of the environmental factors that may not be physically directed at children within the family but have a direct impact on them.
It adds that children who witness violence at home experience mental, emotional and social challenges that predispose them to mental illness.
“They are likely to be victims of child abuse and or perpetrators of violence later in their adulthood. The impact of domestic violence on children is likely to manifest in behavioral challenges, low school grades, criminal and antisocial behavior,’’ the study presented at the “Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Financial stress linked to family breakdowns
The World Health Organisation estimates that 1 billion children aged 12–17 have experienced violence of one kind or another, most of which is perpetrated within the home environment.
It is in this sense that children are often referred to as silent victims of violence and abuse.
The report recommends integrating ACE-10 screening into routine school health services, alongside the expansion of school-based mental health programmes.
This, experts say, will mark a significant shift in treating childhood adversity not just as a health concern but also as a barrier to educational achievement and long-term well-being.
Personal testimonies underscore the urgency for action
Wangui Wanjuki, a youth mental health advocate, shared a moving personal testimony about the long-term effects of unaddressed childhood trauma, calling for more inclusive, grounded policy approaches.
“I experienced ACEs in the form of physical abuse, gender-based violence and parental alienation,” Wanjuki said.
“It is crucial not to create policies in isolation. We must involve those with lived experience to ensure that solutions are not just good on paper, but transformative in practice.”
As Kenya grapples with rising youth mental health concerns, the BMI–Shamiri collaboration marks a pivotal step in catalysing research-driven, trauma-informed interventions that are responsive to the real experiences of young people.
Experts warn that if the situation is not addressed, it is likely to explode into a national security issue as rebel youths, confronted by socio-economic harsh problems, turn to crime and drug abuse to cope, day by day.
According to the report, the overall prevalence of different types of suicidal ideation was 22.6 per cent, major depression was found in 20%, and affectivity, psychosis and stress were found in 10.4, 8.7 and 26%, respectively.
Female gender, major depression, stress, affectivity and psychosis and being in high school were significant predictors of suicidal ideation. - The Star
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