In Kenya, 1.3 million boys and girls between 10 and 19 struggle with mental health. Especially children living in marginalised communities live in a chronic environment of stress, with high levels of violence, abuse and adversity. This environment induces toxic stress, making it difficult for children to regulate their emotions, resulting in impulsive actions and decisions, physical acting out, drug abuse, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

There is a lack of services, such as therapy or counselling, to support children’s ability to deal with stress. Without adequate support, continued exposure to stress can disrupt brain development, affecting learning and impairing decision-making and stress management.This increases the risk of mental health problems, learning problems and behavioural disorders well into adulthood.