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DABS Africa (an association of psychology students at Outspan Medical College in Nyeri), in collaboration with Showtime Cinema recently hosted Penn State University students for a Cross-cultural discussion on Mental health, at the climax of Mental Health Awareness Month on the 28^th May 2023.

The event dubbed ‘Mental Health Talk Show’ shared Cross-cultural Approaches between DABS Africa and Penn State University on Mental health and related issues.

Panelists engage in cross-cultural talk on mental health

The event which was the first of its kind, brought together an audience of young people from the two institutions as well as other young people from across Nyeri town.

The cross-cultural talks on mental health saw the teams converge at the Showtime Cinema in Nyeri, where they all engaged in discussions centered on mental health and the different approaches to coping with mental health challenges.

The event was moderated by Circle Chat cohosts, ReginaWanjiru Muthoga and Christine Waithera Chege, who are both also part of the DABS Africa team, and Wachera Gikonyo of Showtime Cinema. Among the panel were Tia Abdulhadi, Nina Decicco, Sofia Montaner from Penn State University, and Victor Mwai of Outspan Medical College.

Tia Abdulhadi( center) shares her opinion on mental health as panelists Wachera Gikonyo (left), and Regina Muthoga (right) listen in.

The discussions were centered on differences in mental approaches in Kenya and in the United States, and in particular at Penn State University. It was noted that in the United States, people have been more sensitized on mental health and are therefore more vocal about mental health illnesses. They are more advanced when it comes to handling mental health issues. In addition, they have different programs that help in coping with mental health in workplaces and other institutions. On the other hand, people are not as open about mental health in Kenya, and there’s still a lot of stigma associated with mental health issues.

While in the US, they have a lot of facilities and more technologically advanced equipment to test different disorders in their colleges and universities, Kenya is still struggling with stigma and with few health care professionals to handle mental health cases. In addition, there is a gap when it comes to following up on the patients.

Another interesting debate that came up during the session was the role that religion plays in dealing with mental health issues. According to the Penn State students, religion in Africa plays a negative role sometimes as we are too stuck on practicing religion to an extent that it leads to actions that could in the long run impact mental health negatively. A recent example was the ‘Shakahola case’ where a pastor allegedly misled hundreds of faithful, including children by leading them to fast to their death bed. The Penn State students argued that this over-indulgence in religion was impacting negatively on mental health. In their case, they do not dwell more on religion as they feel this can sometimes create a barrier to mental health instead of promoting it. Most of them argued that they would rather practice spirituality.

Students from Penn State University at the event

The engaging debate ended on a high note with the audience wishing that it had lasted longer. There was also positive feedback on the event from across the board.

“The event was great but it should have lasted longer. We definitely hope to have a rerun in the future,” said Waithera Chege, Circle Chat cohosts.

“The session was very interactive and this allowed people to approach us with more confidential questions. This really motivated us. A change of venue would be great for the next time to allow us to interact more with the community. We should have a follow-up where we have cross-cultural talks to see our weaknesses and how we can cope with them. I also hope to see more gentlemen on the panel.” shared Frank Boma, a student psychologist and a member of DABS Africa.

Fanuel Thuranira also part of Dabs Africa shared what he had learnt and how he would use it in his profession.

“What I learnt from Penn State is that they are more open about mental health. In my area of the profession, it takes time to get a mental health patient to trust you. We need to come up with ways of making clients more open and allowing them to feel safe. I am now practicing this in my career.  You must create a safe environment for your patient where they feel there is no judgment.

“It was a very engaging talk and we had a great time learning from each other. We hope that we can do this again some other time, and it would also be interesting to hear what the whole team learnt from us as well,” shared Regina Muthoga.

The Circle Chat is an externship project by Kairu Kuguru of Kahawa Chit Chat. The project gives young people an opportunity to explore artistry by bringing together creatives to form networks through content development and creation.

Waithera Chege and Regina Muthoga cohosts of ‘The Circle Chat with Wa’z show on Youtube.

From a distance, the 8-year-old Jayden Tyler who rocks dreadlocks as the crown on his head may seem like a spoilt child straight from the city. You will also not miss his remarkable English ascent which may make you add to the list of your assumptions about him. However, Jayden’s wit and love for the environment will catch you by surprise and leave you in awe.

Recently, the student, also a brand ambassador at the Caplora STEM International School celebrated his 8^th birthday with children at the Mugunda P.C.E.A church, Nairutia, Kieni West Constituency. The event was not only a birthday celebration but a talent show that had attracted close to 500 children from 14 churches in the parish. The children got to showcase their talents through activities such as comedy, modeling, dance, and acting amongst others.

Jayden who graced the occasion as a special guest shared over 250 Hass avocado tree seedlings with the children who were in attendance. The tree seedlings were a result of his fundraising efforts to ensure that each child received a seedling that they would grow at home even as they grew their talent.

Passion for the Environment

According to Jayden, who hails from Nyeri, his passion for the environment started at an early age and is only growing stronger.

“I have always been mindful of the environment. I cannot litter because I was taught in Rwanda that it is wrong. I learnt the value of being conscious of the environment. When we moved back into the country, I was surprised at how unconscious some people are. I wanted to make Kenya as clean as Rwanda,” the boy who loves comedy, science as well as computer coding explains.

Being multi-talented, Jayden thought of a way that he would be able to reach out to many kids in sharing his message about taking care of the environment.

“I wanted to share the idea that we can nurture our talents and nurture the environment. I requested my mum that we do something impactful during my birthday, something that has to do with the environment. Through our friend Rev Nahashon Githaiga, we learnt that P.C.E.A Mugunda church was planning a children’s talent show. I thought that this was the perfect plan to reach out in spreading the message of the environment,” he further states.

Support from Community

According to Caroline Kagiri, Jayden’s mother, her son’s interest in the environment is something that she noted at an early age.

“He’s always been passionate about the sciences and the environment. When I learnt what he wanted to do, I decided that I would support him and that was when we started fundraising. He’s been instrumental in mobilizing people to support the children by buying the tree seedlings,” she shares. Carol is also grateful that Rev. Nahashon Githaiga at PCEA Muguda parish accepted to support Jayden’s dream.

The idea was to share the tree seedlings with the children at this auspicious event. Once planted, they will remember to nurture the environment even as they nurture the talent,” she adds.

According to the Rev. Nahashon, Jayden’s dream was in line with the talent show event.

“The children are talented in different ways. We want to showcase their talents, boost their self-confidence and encourage them to nurture them. We are grateful that we had Jayden on board because the idea that we want to emphasize is that, even as we nurture the talents, we should also not forget to nurture our environment,” he says.

Future Plans

Jayden may have started at an early age, but his journey does not end here. His future plans:

“We are in the process of registering a tree planting foundation so that we can do this throughout the year. As we celebrate our birthdays, we hope to plant more trees. We will create a club so that we can track how many trees we’ve planted by the end of the year. The trees will provide shelter in the homes, fruits for the family, and surplus produce that can be sold. We shall also be contributing to the reduction of emission of greenhouse gasses,” he concludes.

We are back after a long hiatus. I am sure you are wondering why I haven’t been writing for over a year now? Well, let’s just say I had writer’s block, or I just needed that break.  To be honest, so much happened to me in the Covid-19 season and I just couldn’t get myself to put pen to paper. But I am back and will be sharing all that you missed!

For starters, the twins just turned 4 yay! Time passes fast.

I am not sure I had shared this in my last post, I got another bundle of joy. Yes, a singleton! There is always that anxiety that comes with having more kids after twins. On that, I’ll be sharing my whole journey from the time that I learned that I was pregnant to the time that I knew that I was expecting a singleton. I’ll also share how it has been raising the twins and now their baby brother, who is such a ball of energy. There are obviously many differences between twins and singletons and one has to strike a balance in parenting.

In between the pandemic, I lost my mum to cancer and in the coming posts, I’ll share how this affected my life including how it was parenting during this time of grief.

After having a safe delivery, it turned out that I also got postpartum preeclampsia a rare condition that some of you may know or may not know about. I believe that even as we sharpen our parenting skills, we also need to learn and be aware of health conditions that can affect us.

This year, the twins are back in school. The first time we tried school was last year and that did not end very well. In fact, one of the twins ended up being hospitalized twice with severe pneumonia. I am so glad they are back to attending school and we are hoping for the best this time around as their immunity is stronger, I believe.

Last year I also got my fair share of nanny issues. I have so much to share on this. I could even write a book. I plan to share a series of stories in the coming days just documenting my experiences during these trying times. I’ve got so much to share on my parenting journey, so I’ll only ask you to keep on board. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out as always! Thank you.

I recently woke up to a text message from a friend that read:

“The kids are driving me crazy, will school ever reopen?”

I am not going to lie, I totally relate with this parent, having experienced parenting twins, where I have to break up a fight every once in a while. I can imagine how it feels like being stuck at home with 4-year-old twins and an older almost-teenage daughter who feels left out.

Even though my twins are not of school-going age yet, I already experience fatigue on a day to day basis even with all the help that I receive from my nanny and their father, who is also working from home.

Kids have such bursts of energy you can literally explode from all the things that they make you do. Having school going children over for the weekend can be fun but having them all week through for months on end can be quite something.

With the Coronavirus pandemic still causing havoc in our lives, and the continuous closure of schools, how are you coping? It is important to know how to keep working on ways to keep the kids happy at home. Here are a few useful tips to keep you going.

Have a Routine

As a twin mom, I can confidently say that having a routine with the twins has helped me keep things organized and in order. We basically follow a routine from morning to evening and only break out from the norm when there’s a pretty good reason.

For school-going children, a routine will also help in infusing order into your life. Before you figure everything out, follow the school routine. Let them study when they are supposed to as they are already used to this.

When do they take breaks in school? Schedule breaks around the same time and let them snack up during such times. Basically, break up the day into chunks of time that follow a certain structure. Knowing the schedule will make your life easier.

Schedule Some Fun Indoor Activities

Kids love to play outside, but considering that we are sailing through unprecedented times; it becomes difficult to let them go. While you might just throw in some toys, it becomes more fun for them when you schedule games or activities that involve you as well. I cannot tell you the number of times we’ve played with the kids around the house.

The most amazing thing about indoor activities is that they can be both educative and entertaining. Think of scheduling time for activities such as painting, reading, toy arrangement, or cooking. Easy indoor activities will help you pass time through the day and especially with toddlers and preschoolers. They will also make a great opportunity to transition from one block of time to the other.

Arrange for Some Chores

Being stuck inside can leave your kids broody and bored. To break up the monotony, let them help you with some chores. Besides breaking up the routine, some chores will give your kids a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Letting them help you with disinfecting around the house will teach the importance of hygiene. Older kids can help you with chores such as cooking or gardening.

Schedule Screen Time

In our current world, there are screens virtually everywhere. Some parents opt to keep their children away from the screen up to a certain age. Screen time overexposure can be detrimental to a child’s health and it is important to limit the time spent on screen.

Useful tips:

Make screen time predictable. This helps children anticipate when to expect it and for how long.

Do not hesitate to turn it off. When the scheduled time period is over, turn off the screen so as its time to move on to another activity.

Step Out

There is just no way you’ll totally manage to keep them indoors all day every day.  Break out from normal routine once in a while and step outside. You do not have to go too far. Taking a nature walk around your home will help younger kids learn about what they see outside. You can also go out as a family. Remember to observe all the rules and regulations of the current times. Go to a game park; enjoy a weekend getaway that will allow you to bond as a family. Trust me, this will help everyone unwind and prepare you for another week.

Take it easy, Breath

As a parent, it feels good to see things running smoothly in your home. However, do not beat yourself too much when your kids miss out on the routine. Depending on different situations, it is okay to let go off the little things – that extended screen time, play date, etc. Find joy in the little things that make your kids happy. Remember, this season is temporary and will eventually pass. Do share further tips that are working for you. Will you?

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton