Sisi Wellness, a mental health organization, in collaboration with Creatives Garage, created a digital anthology that brings to light the often-silenced stories of mental wellness struggles in Kenya. The project features real people, many of them creatives, sharing candid reflections on their personal journeys through anxiety, depression, burnout, bipolar disorder, and other mental health challenges.
In Kenya, mental wellness is still shrouded in stigma and misinformation. According to the Ministry of Health, one in every four Kenyans who seek outpatient services suffers from a mental health condition. Depression is the most common, with close to 1.9 million Kenyans affected, yet the country has fewer than 150 practicing psychiatrists for a population of over 50 million. Many people suffer in silence, fearing judgment or lacking access to proper care.
Through storytelling, this anthology offers not just visibility but validation. Each voice in the collection underscores the need for more open dialogue, accessible mental health support, and community empathy. These are not fictional accounts, they are deeply personal and painfully real, highlighting how creativity often lives side by side with emotional struggle.
This project serves as both a record and a resource, pushing back against the shame surrounding mental illness and advocating for wellness as a right, not a privilege. In a country where talking about mental health is still considered taboo in many communities, this anthology reminds us that healing begins with being heard.
