Championing Mental Health
Who is a champion? What does a champion do? I believe that maintaining endurance, persistence, and resilience while fiercely defending your beliefs distinguishes a champion. A champion will publicly advocate for their cause as part of their lifestyle. I would like to share the story of my path as a champion.
“To be a champion, I think you have to see the big picture. It's not about winning and losing; it's about everyday hard work and about thriving on a challenge. It's about embracing the pain that you'll experience at the end of a race and not being afraid” - Summer Sanders
My name is Christine Mukami. Most of my friends call me “Daktari”, though I have yet to officially acquire the title “Doctor”. More recently, I prefer to be called a champion. When I was eight years old, a ‘mad man’ lived in our village. I knew he was different and wondered, “What happened to him?”. Children ran away from him because they didn’t understand him. I dreamed of becoming a doctor and easing the suffering of others. Eventually, it became clear that I wanted to study Psychology. On campus, I campaigned to raise awareness on mental health and I offered peer counseling services. Through my experiences, I learned about different factors that shape our mental health. Recognizing the importance of reproductive health services as it pertains to mental wellness, I was driven to join Pathways Policy Institute as a Youth Champion. Pathways Policy Institute (PPI) is a policy and accountability think tank that is committed to meaningfully influencing public health and environmental policies through research, training, and capacity strengthening. In the Youth Champion seminar with PPI and The Leo Project, I received training in sexual and reproductive health rights advocacy and youth mentorship.
As a Youth Champion, I believe that every person has a right to access high quality health services without discrimination. However, in Kenya, we lack equitable access to care. According to WHO, it is estimated that 1 out of 10 Kenyans suffer from a mental illness, most commonly, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. I champion policy that aims to provide quality, accessible and equitable mental health services; I envision a time where mental health conditions will be treated without stigma and discrimination. Despite the increasing rate of suicide and mental health conditions in Kenya, unfortunately, mental health is not afforded anywhere the same degree of importance as physical health. For example, the Kenyan government does not have a separate budget for mental health. Furthermore, little attention is given to preventative mental health measures. Change can happen by cultivating safe environments conducive to conversation; where mental health can be discussed without fear of discrimination. In my life’s story, I have become a champion committed to overall wellness and to promoting mental health awareness. Through advocacy work, I wish to reduce mental illness stigma and discrimination. Together, we can make the world a better place by remembering the importance of mental health.
About the Author
Christine Ann Mukami is a mental health advocate with an integrated cultural sensitivity. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Egerton University. Christine is currently a Practicing Counselor who passionately advocates for Sexual and Reproductive Health rights while championing against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).