Christine Ombima, Executive Director at Stand Out for Mental Health, and a mental health professional.
In many Kenyan communities, mental health remains a whispered struggle—hidden behind stigma, fear, and scarce resources. But in Ruiru, a bustling peri-urban town northeast of Nairobi, one church is quietly redefining what it means to heal, blending faith with practical mental health care.
Trinity Chapel Ruiru, a vibrant offshoot of Nairobi Chapel, stands at the forefront of a growing grassroots movement: churches stepping up as accessible, trusted spaces for mental wellness. For young people facing anxiety, depression, and stress amidst academic, family, and economic pressures, Trinity Chapel has become much more than a spiritual refuge — it’s a lifeline.
Why this matters
Globally, mental health challenges claim hundreds of thousands of lives every year, with suicide a leading cause of death among men and youth. Kenya, like many low-income countries, faces a widening mental health crisis exacerbated by poverty, stigma, and inadequate health services. In areas like Ruiru — home to universities and colleges, but also to sprawling informal settlements — the challenge is acute.
The formal mental health system struggles with affordability, accessibility, and acceptability. Meanwhile, young people increasingly battle loneliness, substance abuse, and uncertainty about their futures. Into this gap have stepped faith communities — long trusted and deeply embedded in Kenyan society.
Trinity Chapel Ruiru: Where faith meets mental wellness
For Pastor Jackson Kimondo, Youth Pastor at Trinity Chapel Ruiru for six years, the church’s role goes beyond sermons and songs. “Many of our young people silently carry heavy burdens — anxiety, depression, family stress,” he explains. “We realized prayer alone isn’t enough. We needed to bring in mental health experts to give practical help alongside spiritual support.”
Since 2023, Trinity Chapel has woven mental health into its fabric — integrating wellness talks into youth fellowships and hosting peer-led support groups like “Blast Weno,” a safe weekly space for honest sharing. Here, young people speak openly about struggles often avoided elsewhere.
Kimondo recalls, “During Mental Health Awareness Month, we invited psychologists and counselors from our own congregation and beyond. The change was immediate — youth started opening up, asking real questions, seeking help.”
He adds, “When support comes from people who share your faith, it deepens trust. We balance scripture with counseling — acknowledging that therapy, diagnosis, and medicine have their place too.”
Voices from the pews: Transformation and challenges
Ezra Barzillai, 23, is a regular at Blast Weno. “Before, I thought mental health was just ‘wendawazimu’ [madness]. Now I understand so much more,” he says. “It’s the only place I get to learn directly and honestly about depression, anxiety, and how we youth are affected.”
Ezra credits the sessions for helping him identify root causes of his anxiety — from parenting issues to social pressure. “But I feel these discussions should happen more often than just once in a while. We need constant support,” he adds candidly.
For Cynthia Wangari, 21, the church’s program changed her life. “I learned it’s okay not to be okay,” she shares. “The sessions helped me realize my attachment issues and childhood trauma were affecting me deeply.”
Led by a professional psychologist who is amongst the congregation, the group also took attachment style tests — tools Cynthia says opened doors to healing. “I talked to church counselors about my struggles and started therapy. Without this, I would still be trapped,” she says.
Yet Cynthia echoes Ezra’s call for regular mental health engagement. “For many of us, church is the closest safe space. If we don’t get this support regularly, where else can we go?”
Expert perspective: The power and pitfalls of faith-led mental health care
Christine Ombima, a professional counselor and Executive Director of Stand Out for Mental Health, applauds churches’ influence but urges care. “Faith institutions hold huge social capital in Kenya. When church leaders speak openly, it normalizes mental health conversations, breaking stigma.”
She highlights, “Faith provides hope — often the first step towards healing. Churches can be sanctuaries where people feel safe to be vulnerable.”
But Ombima warns of oversimplification: “Mental health isn’t just spiritual. When leaders tell people ‘pray harder’ and avoid counseling or diagnosis, harm can result. Shame, silence, and delays worsen outcomes.”
She calls for humility and partnerships: “Churches need training in mental health basics — know when to offer support, when to refer. Collaborations with professionals build ethical and effective care pathways.”
Ombima envisions “joint forums, trainings, referral networks — faith and psychology working hand in hand. You need Jesus and a therapist.”
Navigating obstacles: Stigma, resources, and leadership gaps
Despite gains, challenges linger at Trinity Chapel and similar churches.
Kimondo admits limited resources led to infrequent mental health programming. “Bringing in experts costs money, and we’re a young church with tight budgets. We want to offer more regular sessions but finances hold us back.”
Stigma persists too. “Many still associate mental illness with ‘madness’ or hospitalization at Mathari Hospital. That scares people from opening up, even in church,” he reflects.
Leadership inertia is another hurdle. “Older leaders often resist mental health initiatives — they see it as ‘out of their control’ or outside traditional ministry,” Kimondo says. “Convincing church elders takes time and evidence.”
Yet he counsels patience and preparation: “Start with small awareness efforts, gather data, build relationships, then approach leadership seriously with facts and plans. When seniors see mental health isn’t just prayer, they listen.”
Hope for a scalable model
Trinity Chapel’s approach offers a hopeful blueprint for churches nationwide. Integrating mental wellness with faith, offering safe peer spaces, inviting expert voices, and linking congregants to professional care addresses Kenya’s mental health gap innovatively and contextually.
Young congregants testify to its transformative power, even as they call for more consistent support. With collaboration between health professionals and faith leaders, and with investment to build capacity, churches can become critical allies in addressing Kenya’s silent mental health crisis.
As Ezra says, “The church is more than a place to worship—it’s a place where I found hope, community, and a path to healing.”
