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{
    "id": 1109263,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1109263/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 226,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kasanga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13185,
        "legal_name": "Sylvia Mueni Kasanga",
        "slug": "sylvia-mueni-kasanga"
    },
    "content": "They reported that in just three months, there had been 483 suicide cases that had been reported and recorded. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would like to appreciate the effort the Government is making in curbing the rising trend. On Wednesday, 9th June, 2021, the Ministry of Health launched the Kenya Mental Health Action Plan (2021-2025). The plan will provide a framework for both national and county governments and stakeholders to implement the Mental Health Policy through strategic objectives which specify priority targets and indicators. Though the Government is now putting up measures to promote mental health wellbeing for our citizens, a lot still needs to be done. As we commemorate the World Mental Health Day this year, I would like to call upon all stakeholders to work together in this course. I call upon the Ministry of Health and the counties to expand mental health funding and human resource. This area of health is unfortunately underfunded, which has made it very difficult to run some of the programmes which would have improved mental health services and awareness. Stigma and discrimination are a major barrier to the improvement of mental health and wellbeing of the population. It contributes to human rights violation of people with mental and psycho-social disabilities and inadequate investment in mental health acts as a barrier to their inclusion in the community. I therefore call upon the Ministry of Health and the counties to support initiatives that increase awareness and combat stigma at all levels. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would like to appreciate the efforts of Members of this House that gave rise to the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill, 2020. I now call upon Members of the National Assembly to also support and pass the Bill, which is currently in the National Assembly and to help strengthen the legal framework of mental health in this country in line with Article 43(1) which provides that every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health which includes the rights to healthcare services. This includes mental health."
}