UoN Hosts Strategic Partners’ Breakfast Forum on Mental Health

The University of Nairobi, through the Office of the Dean of Students and Career Services, successfully convened a Mental Health Strategic Partners’ Breakfast Forum on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at the UoN Towers.

Held under the theme, “Sustainable Strategic Interventions for University Mental Health Services,” the forum brought together key stakeholders, partners, and mental health practitioners to deliberate on innovative and collaborative approaches to addressing the growing mental health needs within the University community.

A Platform for Collaboration and Dialogue

The forum provided a unique opportunity for engagement between the University leadership and strategic partners, fostering dialogue on sustainable, scalable, and impactful mental health interventions. Partners present were drawn from different organizations and institutions including, Chiromo Hospital Group, M.P Shah Hospital, Mater Hospital, Nairobi Hospital, Health Rights Kenya, Amani Counselling Centre, Nairobi County, ZenAfrica Group, Mind Bridge, Neuroline Kenya, Zana Afica, Flourishing Mindset, I Choose Life, UNESCO, Christian Students Leadership Centre (CSLC), Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC) and Inclusive Speech Rights Initiative (ISRI).

The event commenced with a prayer led by the University Chaplain, Rev. Hosea Mitei, followed by a networking breakfast that set the tone for meaningful interactions among participants.

In his opening remarks, the Dean of Students, Johnson Kinyua, emphasized the importance of partnerships in strengthening student support systems and ensuring holistic well-being and further highlighted the objectives for the Forum.

Leadership Commitment to Mental Health

The forum featured remarks from key University leaders.

In his remarks, Dr. Sam Miyoro, Director, University Health services highlighted that mental health is fundamental for students’ success and there is a need to invest in the human capacity to handle mental health-related cases effectively as a University.

In his keynote address, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Ayub Gitau  reaffirmed the University’s commitment to prioritizing mental health as a critical component of academic success and student welfare. He underscored the need for multi-sectoral collaboration in building resilient and responsive support systems.

In understanding the current students’ reality, Prof. Gitau highlighted some of the complex challenges students face on campus beyond lectures and examinations and these include:

•     Academic pressure and performance expectations

•     Financial constraints and uncertainty about the future

•     Social and identity-related challenges

•     The pervasive influence of the digital space

•     And in some cases, isolation even within a crowded campus environment

Understanding the Mental Health Landscape

A highlight of the forum was a presentation by Dr. Anthony Gitari, who provided insights into the current mental health challenges affecting students. His presentation highlighted increasing demand for services and the need for enhanced capacity and resources.

This was followed by a strategic presentation by Lucy Gikundi, which outlined the University’s framework for engaging partners in addressing the mental health crisis through coordinated interventions, and included a call to action inviting partners present to actively support and collaborate in various mental health initiatives.

Partner Perspectives and Shared Responsibility

Stakeholders shared valuable perspectives on student mental health, with Chebet Birir Saina emphasizing the importance of shifting from isolated interventions to collaborative, sustainable models anchored in lived experiences.

The plenary session provided a platform for open dialogue, enabling participants to exchange ideas, identify gaps, and propose practical solutions. The outcome of this session was commitments from different partners on areas of possible collaboration to offer solutions for the different mental health challenges our students face.

Way Forward: Towards Sustainable Solutions

In her closing remarks on the way forward, Dr. Caroline Rukunga emphasized the need for:

• Strengthened partnerships
• Investment in mental health infrastructure
• Capacity building for both students and staff
• Adoption of innovative and digital solutions

The forum concluded with a vote of thanks by Catherine Gatwiri, who appreciated all partners for their commitment to supporting the University’s mental health agenda.

A Renewed Commitment

The Strategic Partners’ Breakfast Forum marked a significant step towards building a comprehensive, collaborative, and sustainable mental health ecosystem at the University of Nairobi. The engagements underscored the shared responsibility among stakeholders in ensuring that students thrive not only academically but also mentally and emotionally.

The stakeholder engagement demonstrated strong commitment from partners to support the University of Nairobi in enhancing mental health services. The diversity of expertise and commitments made provides a solid foundation for building a comprehensive, integrated, and sustainable mental health support system for both students and staff.

Moving forward, it is recommended that:

•   A multi-stakeholder coordination framework be established

•   A joint work plan be developed and implemented

•   Regular review and accountability mechanisms be instituted

This collaborative approach will ensure that the University effectively addresses the mental health needs of its students and staff while fostering resilience, well-being, and academic success.