43 of healthcare workers in Kenya report depression symptoms, New study shows

Healthcare workers are central to Kenya’s health system, forming the first point of contact for patients seeking care across hospitals and clinics. 

A new study suggests that many of these professionals are grappling with mental health challenges, raising important questions about workforce wellbeing and the quality of care patients receive.

Findings from the UZIMA Data Science (UZIMA-DS) study by the Aga Khan University Brain and Mind Institute show that 43.1 per cent of healthcare workers experienced depressive symptoms at least once during 12 months.

The study followed 514 healthcare workers across five hospitals in Nairobi using validated mental health screening tools. Researchers found that 16.9 per cent reported moderately severe depressive symptoms, while 5.5 per cent experienced severe symptoms, pointing to a workforce under sustained emotional and psychological pressure.

According to the study, healthcare workers in Kenya operate in environments marked by high patient volumes, staffing shortages, long working hours and emotionally demanding care settings. Daily exposure to illness, death and distress further contributes to psychological strain.

The study further identifies workplace and social factors that increase vulnerability to depressive symptoms. These include workplace discrimination, limited social support, stressful life events, fewer years of experience and younger age. Workplace discrimination emerged as one of the strongest contributing factors, highlighting concerns about psychological safety within health facilities.

Professor Zul Merali, Founding Director of the Brain and Mind Institute and Co-Principal Investigator of the UZIMA-DS project, said: “This study highlights the reality of what healthcare workers are carrying every day. The findings give us a clear chance to take action and improve the systems that support our healthcare workers.”

The study emphasises that healthcare workers' mental health is not only an individual concern but also a systemic issue. Organisational culture, workplace conditions and support structures all help shape psychological wellbeing.

The research highlights significant gaps in institutional mental health support across healthcare facilities in Kenya. Few workplaces offer structured wellbeing programmes, routine screening or confidential psychosocial support systems.

Stigma and fear of discrimination continue to discourage healthcare workers from seeking help early.

The study identifies opportunities for intervention. Healthcare workers reported willingness to engage with digital mental health tools, including mobile applications and wearable technologies. These tools were used to track mood, sleep and wellbeing indicators, with high participation and positive feedback over the study period. This points to the potential for scalable mental health solutions that allow early identification of distress and timely support before symptoms escalate.

The study recommends strengthening institutional responses by integrating mental health into occupational health systems. This includes routine screening for psychological distress, access to counselling services, structured referral pathways and workplace wellbeing programmes tailored specifically for healthcare workers.

It also calls for stronger workplace protections, including enforcement of anti-discrimination policies, leadership training on mental health awareness and promotion of supportive and inclusive workplace cultures. Prevention is highlighted as a key priority, with emphasis on early intervention rather than reactive care. This includes embedding mental health awareness into training, developing peer support systems and providing targeted support for younger and early-career healthcare workers who are shown to be more vulnerable.

Mary Karongo, Deputy Director of Counselling in the Ministry of Health’s Division of Mental Health, notes the importance of integrating mental health into broader health system planning.

“We recognise that supporting healthcare workers’ mental health is key to better care and stronger health systems,” she said.

The findings position healthcare workers' mental health as a core component of health system resilience. When healthcare workers are under sustained psychological strain, the effects extend beyond individual wellbeing and can influence workforce retention, service delivery and patient experience.

Addressing healthcare worker mental health, the study notes, requires coordinated action across policy, institutional practice and workplace culture. It also highlights the need for sustained financing and long-term integration of mental health support into health workforce strategies.