Peer-Based Therapy Offers Kenyan High School Students a Mental Health Lifeline
NAIROBI, Kenya – A silent mental health crisis is unfolding in Kenya’s high schools, and a peer-led counseling model may be one of the country’s most effective responses yet.
The Shamiri Institute, a Kenyan-based organization founded in 2018, is reaching students through low-cost mental health programs led by trained youth counselors. Known as Shamiri Fellows, these 18 to 22-year-olds deliver therapy sessions inside classrooms to students facing intense emotional and academic pressure.
The initiative comes amid increasing concern about adolescent mental health in Kenya. A World Health Organization report shows that one in seven adolescents globally suffers from a mental disorder. Depression, anxiety, and behavioral issues rank among the leading causes of illness and disability in teenagers aged 10 to 19.
In Kenya, many of these challenges go unaddressed.
Sixteen-year-old Ann, a student in Busia County, said pressure to perform in school leaves her mentally drained. “I get stressed when I fail to get the best grades, especially when I know I’m capable. It makes me feel disappointed,” she said.
Kevin, a Form Two student from Meru, shared a similar experience. He missed his first term of Form One due to illness and struggled to catch up. “I was stressed that missing classes would affect my performance,” he said.
Their stories are not isolated. Teachers and school staff are reporting more students grappling with anxiety, academic burnout, peer conflict, and unresolved trauma. But formal support remains scarce.
To bridge that gap, Shamiri has implemented a near-peer therapy approach. Sessions typically include 6 to 15 students and focus on gratitude, growth mindset, personal values, and problem-solving. These tools, based on positive psychology, encourage students to build confidence and resilience using strengths they already have.
“Traditional therapies often focus on what’s wrong,” said Veronica Ngatia, Shamiri Institute’s Director of Service Delivery. “We focus on what’s right and build from there.”
In sessions, students open up about bullying, loneliness, pressure at home, and family instability. Some even face adult responsibilities like caring for siblings or worrying about school fees and food.
Since its launch, the Shamiri model has reached over 178,000 students in 350 schools. The organization aims to reach one million students annually by 2027.
Students in need of deeper care are referred for up to four additional sessions. Follow-up checks at one month, one year, and three years help track long-term results.
The model is gaining recognition as one of the most cost-effective mental health strategies in East Africa. Shamiri is also expanding partnerships to support more schools and improve continuity of care.
But while grassroots solutions are growing, systemic support remains limited. A government taskforce formed in 2019 called for urgent national action, including a Mental Health and Happiness Commission and a nationwide adolescent mental health framework.
The final report was submitted in 2020, but its key recommendations remain largely unimplemented. Kenya still lacks a coordinated school-based mental health policy.
Experts warn that without national leadership, efforts like Shamiri’s may not be enough to meet the growing need.
“We need real commitment,” Ngatia said. “The students are ready to speak. But we need to be ready to listen and act.”
As academic pressure and economic strain continue to weigh on young people, peer-led therapy is proving that early, relatable intervention can change lives. But advocates say it’s only one piece of a solution that must include national policy, school counselors, and sustained funding.
