Nairobi: One in every five Kenyan adolescents has experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), placing them at high risk for mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and bullying.
According to Kenya News Agency, these findings were shared during the ‘Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): From Research to Policy Action’ webinar, hosted by the Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) at Aga Khan University in collaboration with the Shamiri Institute. The study titled ‘Understanding the Lasting Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on the Mental Health of Kenyan Youth’ highlighted the significant impact of ACEs, which include neglect, abuse, poverty, and violence, on mental health.
Prof. Zul Merali, Founding Director of BMI, emphasized the urgent need for cross-sectoral interventions to address the root causes of mental distress. He stated, “Childhood adversity is a public health crisis that threatens the well-being and potential of our entire generation. Through this webinar, we aim to elevate research-informed solutions that can help Kenyan children not only survive adversity but thrive despite it.”
The study revealed that adolescents experiencing more adversities were significantly more likely to show symptoms of mental health issues. It was found that 24 percent of respondents had moderate to severe symptoms of depression, while 21.4 percent experienced moderate to severe anxiety.
Tom Osborn, Founder and CEO of the Shamiri Institute, pointed out a strong association between bullying and high adversity scores, with boys appearing particularly vulnerable. He stressed the necessity for urgent intervention, stating, “Young people in Kenya are navigating enormous emotional burdens. As a society, we can’t afford to look away.”
The data also indicated socioeconomic and family-related vulnerabilities, showing that adolescents with only one surviving parent had 18% higher adversity scores, and those performing poorly in school were 15% more likely to have faced adversity.
Youth advocate Wangui Wanjuki shared her personal experiences of ACEs, including physical abuse and parental manipulation, emphasizing the need for discussions to shape effective policy-making. She said, “It is important to not make policies in isolation because they are supposed to complement existing policies and laws.”
The webinar underscored the integration of screening tools like the ACE-10 into school health programs and the expansion of school-based mental health support, signaling growing efforts in Kenya to tackle childhood adversity as both a mental health and education issue.
As the data highlights the invisible wounds burdening Kenya’s youth, the event gathered policymakers, researchers, mental health professionals, and educators to discuss the impact of childhood adversity and explore strategies to build resilience in schools and communities.