VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND STRENGTHENING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH & PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT

Enhanced violence prevention mechanisms and strengthened access to community-based mental health and psychosocial support in Kenya.

This project also aims to strengthen access to community-based mental health and psychosocial support in Kenya. It prioritizes building capacities for Community Health Promoters (CHPs), Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), senior staff at the County Department of Health, Midrift Hurinet staff and other stakeholders in evidence-based low-intensity psychological interventions such as Problem Management plus (PM+) to provide psychosocial support to survivors of Violence as well as provision of necessary referrals .

The project consists of seven outcomes, as follows The approach involves problem management (PM) (also known as problem-solving counselling or problem-solving therapy) plus (+) selected behavioural strategies. Hence the term PM+.

In combining these strategies, this programme aims to address both psychological problems (e.g. stress, fear, feelings of helplessness) and, where possible, practical problems (e.g. livelihood problems, conflict in the family and so on).

The project consists of seven outcomes, as follows

1. Access to community-based mental health and psychosocial support has been strengthened.
2. Increased knowledge of Mental Health & Psychosocial Services (MHPSS) case referral pathways and intersectoral collaboration in referrals among state and non-state actors.
3. Enhanced community led dialogue for collective action in violence prevention in the project areas of Nakuru, Baringo and Nairobi Counties.
4. Enhanced advocacy on creating budgets for and implementation of policies and legislations on mental health, violence prevention, peace building and conflict management in Nakuru, Baringo and Nairobi Counties.
5. New impact opportunities for collective action explored by the Place-Based Leadership Development (PBLD) leaders on contemporary violence and security priorities after the political landscape created by the August 2022 election in Nakuru, Baringo and Nairobi Counties.
6. Basic conditions for institutional collaboration established with state actors on violence prevention, peaceful coexistence, constitutional rights and obligations.
7. MIDRIFT positioned as a strong backbone organization with increased capacity to administrate, coordinate and lead a diversity of stakeholders locally, nationally and with South-South collaboration perspectives.