Effect of Mental Health Awareness Campaigns on Depression Rates in Kenya

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of mental health awareness campaigns on depression rates in Kenya. Materials and Methods: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study found that these campaigns increase knowledge about mental health issues, destigmatize seeking help, and promote positive coping strategies. For instance, a study found that communities exposed to targeted awareness initiatives reported a notable decrease in depressive symptoms, highlighting the effectiveness of such programs in fostering open discussions about mental health. Additionally, campaigns often utilize social media to reach younger demographics, successfully engaging them in mental health dialogues, which has been linked to improved help-seeking behaviors (Harrison et al., 2021). Overall, the implementation of mental health awareness campaigns has been associated with decreased depression rates, demonstrating their crucial role in public health strategies aimed at enhancing mental well-being. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Health belief model (HBM), social cognitive theory and theory of planned behavior may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the effect of mental health awareness campaigns on depression rates in Kenya. In practice, mental health organizations should adopt tailored strategies that resonate with specific demographic groups. From a policy perspective, there is a strong need to advocate for the integration of mental health education into school curricula.