HealthRight Kenya turns 20 with bold mental health push for university students

NAIROBI, Kenya — HealthRight Kenya has marked its 20th anniversary with the launch of an ambitious mental health program aimed at university students across the country.
The new initiative, dubbed Minds in Motion (MiM): From Stress to Resilience, Turning Conversations into Action, focuses on students in higher learning institutions. It places them at the heart of conversations and co-creation of solutions that promote mental well-being. The program aims to transform how universities approach mental health — moving from awareness and discussion to tangible, community-driven action.
A new chapter in youth empowerment
HealthRight Kenya has long been recognized for its commitment to improving access to healthcare in underserved communities. On its 20th anniversary, the organization is extending that legacy by focusing on university students, who face unique emotional and social pressures that often go unaddressed.
Speaking during the launch event, Benson Simba, HealthRight Kenya’s Country Director, underscored the need to prioritize mental health among young people. He explained that the organization’s previous success implementing community-based mental health models inspired this expansion into the higher education sector.
“We have implemented critical models around mental health that we now seek to scale up within university spaces,” Simba said. “Mental health is a growing pandemic, and we’re partnering with universities, public institutions, and private organizations to address it holistically. Our goal is to empower students to become both advocates and co-creators of their own well-being.”
Benson Simba, Country Director-HealthRight Kenya speaking during the launch of Minds in Motion program.
The Minds in Motion program will bring together universities, student associations, and partner institutions to establish peer support systems, mental health awareness campaigns, and healing circles — safe spaces where students can share experiences, learn coping strategies, and support one another.
Growing crisis among university students
The launch of the initiative is anchored on a 2024 study conducted at the Technical University of Mombasa which revealed that 57.7 percent of students experienced depression, with family, school, economic, and environmental pressures cited as key contributors.
Across Kenya, universities continue to report rising cases of depression, anxiety, and suicide among students. These issues have become a growing concern for educators, counsellors, and mental health advocates who warn that the situation has reached crisis levels.
During the launch, Dr. Johnson Ireri Kinyua, Dean of Students at the University of Nairobi, described the situation as alarming.
“Students are committing suicide every day, and just last week, we lost one,” said Dr. Kinyua. “One life lost is one too many. HealthRight Kenya’s engagement with our students has made a difference — they’re opening up, they’re asking for help, and they want more healing circles. This initiative is not just timely; it’s essential.”
Dr. Johnson Ireri Kinyua, Dean of Students University of Nairobi speaking during the launch of Minds in Motion program.
Two decades of strengthening health systems
Since its founding, HealthRight Kenya has impacted more than 4.5 million people across 11 counties, working to improve healthcare delivery and strengthen local health systems. Over the years, the organization has developed programs in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health; HIV prevention and care; violence prevention; and mental health and psychosocial support.
The launch of Minds in Motion marks a new phase in HealthRight Kenya’s mission — one that addresses not only physical health but also the emotional and psychological resilience of young people.
“Mental health is the next frontier in community health,” Simba added. “By starting with students — the next generation of leaders — we are investing in Kenya’s future.”
About HealthRight Kenya
HealthRight Kenya is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening health systems and advancing the rights of marginalized populations. For two decades, it has partnered with communities, local governments, and international organizations to ensure access to quality healthcare for all.
Guided by its vision, “Strengthening Health Systems. For All.”, HealthRight Kenya continues to build healthier, more resilient communities across the country.