Reference no: EM133636104

Case: The problem statement for this project is that there is a growing demand for mental health services in Kenya, but there is inadequate access and a shortage of providers. This shortage is due to several factors, including the lack of funding for mental health services and the increasing complexity of mental health management (Ogutu, 2018). The scarcity of access to adequate mental health services has been noted as a significant issue in Kenya's literature on mental health (Gachuhi et al., 2019). Kenya has 54 psychiatrists, 418 trained psychiatric nurses, and very few psychologists to manage a population of about 50 million; 4% of the total population is likely to suffer from a major mental disorder (Marangu et al., 2016). It is difficult to pay for the very high cost of education due to poverty, thus limiting mental health providers within the country. Lack of equitable funding for mental health treatment is one of Kenya's major problems due to corruption in the government sector (Ogutu, 2018). When it comes to funding, mental health programs sometimes receive little or no support in rural areas (Marangu et al., 2016).

Due to inequitable resources as dictated by the political class, most people are limited in accessing the funding necessary to pursue education at institutions of higher learning (Ogutu, 2018). For this reason, mental health providers are scarce in meeting the needs of those with mental health concerns (Marangu et al., 2016). Training mental health professionals is expensive and requires equal financial resource distribution within the counties and better policy formulations to enable this vital course to succeed. Politicians control the financial distribution of resources among the counties they represent (Gachuhi et al., 2019). Conversely, a corrupt political atmosphere is more significant in hindering equitable resources throughout the country. Previous efforts to alleviate Kenya's poor access to mental health services have fallen short (Ogutu, 2018). In addition to funding and training, the salaries for the providers are meager. This contributes to the limited-service provision since many trained professionals move out of the country searching for greener pastures (Marangu et al., 2016). These problems have influenced the high rates of about 4% of the population or persons with mental health illnesses and the lack of access to mental health services (Marangu et al., 2016). The government of Kenya and its leadership team have failed to ensure equitable financial resource distribution to help address the scarcity of trained personnel and access to mental health services in rural Kenya (Ogutu, 2018). Funding initiatives on mental health literacy advocacy and policies have been implemented to address Kenya's lack of sufficient access to mental health treatments. This study will evaluate their efficacy in this regard.

Purpose Statement

This project, which is a healthcare policy analysis and development type, aims to outline strategies and interventions that can be employed to address the demand for mental health services in Kenya, with a specific focus on mitigating the issues of insufficient funding and barriers to access to mental health services (Ogutu, 2018). It is vital to note that this project will also be seeking to identify strategies to improve access to mental health services within marginalized parts of the country which has significantly lower rates of patients diagnosed with mental health disorders. This is due to insufficient mental health providers in this region (Ogutu, 2018). By understanding the unique challenges faced by the Kenyan mental healthcare system, health administrators can proactively develop and implement effective measures to ensure adequate mental health support for the population (Ayazi et al., 2016). This project seeks to promote equitable access to mental health services, improve treatment quality, and facilitate the creation of a comprehensive, long-term mental health system. This involves health administrators advocating for increased budget allocation and resource mobilization through stakeholders' and policymakers' consultative engagement (Karanja, 2017). The goal is to analyze the existing policies and funding mechanisms related to mental health and identify strategies that can be employed to enhance access to these services. Throughout the project, it is essential to connect the objectives with the roles and responsibilities of healthcare administrators, who play a critical role in defining and executing healthcare policy (Ayazi et al., 2016). To achieve this, the projects seek to conduct a comprehensive literature review to gather evidence on the current state of mental health funding in Kenya and the associated barriers to access. This will provide a solid foundation for the analysis and help to understand the key challenges faced by individuals seeking mental health services (Ministry of Health Kenya, 2015). By aligning the project's objectives with the roles and responsibilities of healthcare administrators, this project seeks to provide actionable recommendations that can drive meaningful policy changes. These recommendations will be grounded in the evidence gathered, the insights gained from stakeholders, and the evaluative criteria employed. The goal is to advocate for improved funding, enhanced access to mental health services, and better mental health outcomes for individuals in Kenya (Ministry of Health Kenya, 2015).

Health administrators must engage with policymakers, government officials, and other stakeholders to emphasize the importance of mental health and its impact on overall well-being (Karanja, 2017). This project will also focus on healthcare policy analysis. As a health administrator, it is essential to understand the demand for mental health services in Kenya to ensure that individuals can access the care they need. This project also seeks to provide insight into the demand for mental health services in Kenya and identify potential solutions to meet this demand. It will review the context of mental health in Kenya, including the availability and access to mental health services and the socio-cultural factors influencing service utilization (Karanja, 2017). Furthermore, the project will examine the current mental health policies and legislation in Kenya and assess the effectiveness of existing mental health initiatives.

From a health administrator's point of view, it is also essential to understand how mental health services are currently being delivered in Kenya and what can be done to improve service delivery. This project will investigate the current delivery of mental health services in Kenya, including the types of services available, the providers delivering these services, and the barriers to accessing mental health care (Ayazi et al., 2016). Additionally, it will explore potential solutions to improve the delivery of mental health services, such as increasing the availability of mental health services in rural areas, training more mental health professionals, and expanding technology to improve access to care(Marangu et al., 2014).The project will focus on expanding existing mental health services, providing training and education to health care professionals, and capacity-building programs (Ogutu, 2018).This project will consider the potential impact of proposed solutions and advise stakeholders and policymakers on effectively addressing mental health needs in Kenya. This includes assessing proposed solutions' financial and resource implications and exploring potential funding sources (Ayazi et al., 2016). Additionally, it will consider the potential for innovative approaches to improve service delivery, such as partnering with community-based organizations or developing mobile health apps to provide mental health services. It will allow health administrators to comprehensively understand Kenya's current mental health system and identify strategies to improve service delivery and access to care (Karanja, 2019). Ultimately, this project will contribute to developing an effective mental health system in Kenya, ensuring that individuals with mental health disorders can access the services they need to lead healthy and productive lives.

The initiative will also strive to increase public and private financing for mental health services in Kenya and lobby for legislative reforms to provide equal access to mental health treatments for all Kenyans. Lastly, the initiative will work to ensure that mental health services are integrated into the current health system, allowing seamless, comprehensive treatment delivery (Ministry of Health Kenya, 2015). Developing strategies to compel lawmakers to pay closer attention to the needs associated with mental health services in marginalized areas in the country will be part of the focus of this project. It will also work to increase awareness of mental health issues to the parliamentarians to help them see the need to allocate more resources to address mental health issues. Additionally, the project will seek to engage the community in developing and implementing mental health services and strategies to ensure that those in need of mental health care can access quality and affordable services in their communities.

1) Using the above, write a detailed abstract for the project Demand for mental health services in Kenya.

2) Under the Metrics and Performance Measurements Subsection

Explain in detail the metrics you will use to track the status of processes and progress of your Doctoral Project or Dissertation-in-Practice.

Explain the performance measurements (also known as key performance indicators) you will use to track the success of your Doctoral Project or Dissertation-in Practice.

Justify how the metrics and performance measurements align with your problem statement, purpose statement, and design.