CCIH East Africa Regional Meeting Inspires Action on Mental Health
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
CCIH held our first Regional Meeting on May 21–23, 2024, at Brackenhurst Conference Centre in Limuru, Kenya. The meeting theme was Mental Health Matters: Speaking Up for Mental Health in Christian Communities, and it was co-hosted by the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK) and SIL, Anglo-Lusophone Africa.
The meeting attracted 87 attendees from 14 countries who came together for interactive sessions and presentations, with 31 speakers who shared their knowledge, experiences, challenges, and successes. Dr. Mercy Karanja of the Kenyan Ministry of Health and Dr. Diana Kemunto Nyamweya of USAID gave welcoming remarks, sharing their mental health priorities and perspectives on working with faith actors.
Presentations and interactive breakout sessions addressed Mental Health Services in Health Facilities, Community Mental Health Programming, Maternal Mental Health, Mental Health for Caregivers, and Crafting a Culture of Staff Resilience and Well-Being. The full program is available here.
Resources shared at the Regional Meeting, including presentations for each session, are available here.
We shared a new Maternal Mental Health Toolkit created by the CCIH-led Faith Engagement Team of MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership. The toolkit is designed to equip diverse faith actors with the information and tools needed to raise awareness, deconstruct myths, and address barriers that inhibit positive maternal mental health so that women, families, and communities can thrive.
More information about how to get involved in our mental health initiatives will be shared to continue the work that began at the meeting. Additionally, a position paper will be drafted to share the lessons learned.
The meeting was sponsored by Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Hospitainer, JSI, Imres, African Christian Health Association Platform, SIL International, Restoring Vision, MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership, CURE International, and Friends of Kijabe.
Meeting attendees expressed their gratitude and expectation of continuing the conversation, connection, and information-sharing that began at the Regional Meeting.
“It was great to connect with Christian medics and other people with whom I share a common goal of improving mental health. Through these new connections, I see several opportunities to extend the work that my organization is doing.”
Meeting members from different Christian organizations and platforms was a huge opportunity to connect and work on common goals to enhance the mental well-being of the people we serve.