Diaspora Affairs Engagement

MENTAL WELLNESS FIRST AID AND SUPPORT INITIATIVES FOR THE KENYAN DIASPORA

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Saturday, June 7, 2025(MINNESOTA, USA)Ms. Irene Karari, Director, Skills & Expertise Division, held a meeting with Mr. Bill Akuma President and CEO of Uplifted Care Services/Ready Care Staffing, LLC in Minnesota, USA.

The meeting sought to address mental wellness among the Kenyan diaspora and to develop robust support mechanisms for Kenyans living abroad.

The discussions focused on enhancing diaspora welfare by establishing comprehensive support systems overseas and effective reintegration frameworks for returnees. A key concern raised was the increasing psychological distress among diaspora communities, especially young adults grappling with culture shock and identity issues.

Mr. Akuma highlighted significant gaps in psychological readiness for life abroad, stressing the importance of equipping diaspora parents with tools to maintain family unity and adapt to new cultural norms, thereby minimizing intergenerational conflicts and communication barriers.

The discussion also underscored the necessity for structured orientation programs for young adults, particularly those arriving through visa lotteries, to help them navigate job markets, social systems, and community integration in their new settings.

The meeting recognized the vast, untapped potential within Kenya’s global professional diaspora, noting that many skilled doctors, counselors, trainers, and other specialists are spread worldwide without coordinated engagement.

Mr. Akuma advocated for the creation of comprehensive skills registries to align diaspora expertise with Kenya’s national development goals, unlocking valuable human capital for both domestic and diaspora needs.

A transformative proposal emerged: positioning Kenya as the first African nation to license the internationally acclaimed Mental Health First Aid program, which has trained over 8 million people in 29 countries. This initiative would address pre-departure mental health training, generate employment for certified instructors across all counties, and establish Kenya as a leader in diaspora mental health innovation.

Present in the meeting were Mr. Collins Maranga, Director of Clinical Services and Ms. Glenda Gilbert.