Youth Engagement in Art for Mental Health (YEA) having a mental talk discussion in a school in Kirinyaga/PHOTO: YEA.
As the world observes World Suicide Day, communities are reminded that even small actions can save lives.
The global theme for 2024–2026, Changing the Narrative on Suicide, calls for breaking stigma and highlighting solutions that make a real difference.
In Kenya, the Ministry of Health’s Suicide Prevention Strategy (2021–2026) reports that at least four people die by suicide daily.
Adolescent suicides are rising in low- and middle-income countries, with rural areas seeing higher numbers than urban centers.
Amid this challenge, some grassroots initiatives are showing that change is possible, one conversation at a time.
From Personal Loss to Community Action
For Mary Mwai, the crisis became personal when a close friend took his own life.
The shock of losing someone she cared about drove her to act.
“That moment shook me. I kept asking myself, if there had been a safe space, if I had listened more deeply, would things have been different?” Mwai recalled.
That loss sparked the creation of Youth Engagement in Art for Mental Health (YEA), a grassroots initiative based in Kirinyaga County.
“Instead of waiting for large institutions to solve the crisis, I took small but powerful actions, one art session, one conversation, one peer circle at a time,” she explained.
Building Safe Spaces for Youth
YEA offers young people a judgment-free environment to share their struggles.
Mwai and a team of volunteers facilitate peer support circles, community dialogues, advocacy campaigns, and art workshops, where youth engage in activities such as painting, writing, singing, or performing.
“We don’t just talk about mental health. We paint it, sing it, and live it. Every time a young person says, ‘I feel lighter,’ we know we are moving in the right direction,” Mwai said.
Cultural pressures, particularly for young men expected to remain stoic, present challenges. YEA addresses this by starting sessions with music, sports, or creative activities before moving into deeper discussions.
While the initiative does not replace professional therapy, it bridges a critical gap—catching distress early and connecting youth to professional help when needed.
Prevention Before Crisis
Mercy Nzuki, a psychologist and mental health advocate known as The Mind Advocate, emphasizes that early intervention is key.
“When youth see their peers opening up, it reassures them they are not alone,” she said. Introducing professional help through trusted peer networks also makes support less intimidating.
Citing a 2022 Ministry of Health report that recorded over 500 suicides annually, Nzuki notes the true number is likely higher due to stigma and underreporting.
For YEA, progress is measured in behaviour changes when schools invite them back, when parents report improvements, and when youth volunteer to support others.
“You don’t need a big budget to start. All you need is a listening ear and consistency,” Mwai said. Nzuki adds that integrating mental health conversations into everyday institutions like schools, churches, and workplaces reinforces that it is part of holistic health, not something to be ashamed of.
The Power of Art and Peer Support
“Art makes young people feel safe. It’s less intimidating than a hospital room,” Mwai said. Peers understand each other’s pressures and speak the same language, creating a space where suppressed feelings can surface and be addressed.
Anne, 17, first attended a YEA painting session quietly, using art as a shield. Over time, her paintings revealed the silent struggles she could not voice.
Eventually, she opened up about battling suicidal thoughts and now volunteers with YEA to support others.
Similarly, David, who once carried a suicide note, found hope in a community dialogue session. Listening to peers openly share struggles gave him a sense of belonging. By the session’s end, he tore up the note and has since become an active participant in YEA, supporting other young people in navigating mental health challenges.
Understanding Pressures Facing Youth
Nzuki identifies three pressures contributing to youth despair: the gap between expectations and reality, challenges in relationships, and social media pressures.
Young people are often less prepared to manage interpersonal challenges and are confronted with idealized online lives that create unrealistic comparisons.
“When stigma or fear prevents them from opening up, silence becomes dangerous,” she said. Early, safe intervention is crucial to prevent despair from escalating into crisis.
Breaking the Silence in Communities
Stigma remains one of the greatest barriers to addressing mental health.
Families often grieve in silence, and institutions such as schools, churches, and workplaces rarely have the tools to implement prevention strategies.
Nzuki emphasizes leveraging social support and existing resources, including toll-free helplines like 116 for children, 1190 for youth, and 1192, which operates 24 hours.
Practical Strategies That Work
Solutions extend beyond hospitals and helplines. Nzuki highlights arts-based therapy, peer-led support networks, group activities, and partnerships with faith communities as effective interventions.
These approaches normalize mental health conversations, reduce stigma, and provide accessible ways for youth to process emotions and build resilience.
In rural Kirinyaga, YEA demonstrates that even small, community-driven initiatives can create meaningful change.
By turning personal grief into collective action, Mwai and her team offer young people hope, resilience, and the tools to support one another proving that solutions to complex problems like suicide can begin with listening, creativity, and community.
