Community Health Promoters (CHPs) are central to Kenya’s primary healthcare system bringing health information, screening, referrals and follow-up closer to households.

But the work can come with significant emotional, financial and workplace pressures.

Research from the SHINE Consortium, involving 1,236 CHPs in Nairobi and Kiambu, found that 22.4% screened positive for symptoms consistent with moderate or higher depression, 30.6% for anxiety and 12.7% for stress.

The findings also highlight challenges beyond mental health, including demanding workloads, out of pocket expenses, gaps in supportive supervision and the complex realities CHPs encounter while serving their communities.

Through SHINE, Lvcthealth and partners are working with CHPs, Community Health Assistants and decision makers to test practical approaches to strengthening worker wellbeing including mental health literacy, peer led self care, supportive supervision and SMS based support.

The bigger conversation is clear: strengthening community health systems must also mean strengthening the wellbeing of the people who make them work.

Health Business explores the evidence, lived experiences of CHPs and what this could mean for Kenya’s community health system in greater depth.

Read the full story on Health Business