Mental Health, the Invisible Weight

At 6 am, the camp is awake.

The sound of motorcycles cuts through the morning air, carrying passengers to work, meetings, and markets. Shopkeepers sweep the dust from in front of their kiosks. Mothers make uji for their children. Children with sleepy eyes and incomplete uniforms drag their feet to school. A Turkana boy walks by with charcoal on his bicycle. Neighbors greet one another over the fence with warm smiles, exchanging the familiar question, “How are you?”

Somali Bantu Market, Kakuma 3

Most people answer, “I am fine.”

But what if ‘fine’ doesn’t tell the whole story?

Many individuals carry memories of the homes they had to leave behind, each with their own worries and hopes. A young man wondering if he'll ever find a steady job, a mother trying to make one meal last twice as long, a student struggling to focus because he's hungry, a young girl worried about how she'll afford sanitary pads, and a father thoughtfully considers how to feed his five children.

These are the weights we don’t see.

Mental health is often misunderstood as something that only matters when a person is in crisis. But in reality, it is part of everyday life, and it influences how we think, cope with stress, build relationships, and make decisions.

The World Health Organization estimates that around 22% of people living in conflict-affected settings experience a mental health condition at any given time. 

These numbers are more than statistics; they represent neighbours, parents, students, entrepreneurs and young people striving to build meaningful lives.

Mental Load Youth Carry that bars Healthy Living

Speaking to the refugees taking courses at RAI Center, two questions stood out:

What is the heaviest thing you carry that no one can see?

“ The heaviest thing on my mind, and I think about it every day, is the desire to accomplish the goals I have set for myself this year. We are in mid-year, and I often wonder whether I will be able to achieve them or not.”

A young woman.

“I would love to further my education and pursue a career in International Relations. My current level of education limits me. I have ideas I want to share with the world. I have projects too.”

A learner.

“In the camp, there are many challenges and uncertainties. As a youth, I worry about my future job security. Will I still be here in the camp?”

A young man.

What helps you get through the difficult times?

“I take time to introspect. I find it very refreshing to sit with my thoughts and understand them or sometimes just take a moment to breathe.”

A learner.

“When I am at my lowest, I spend time with family and friends. Especially when I talk to my son and play with him, I feel relieved.”

A young woman.

“As a youth- and I believe I speak for all- team-building or recreational activities with friends or colleagues lift my spirits and promote mental wellbeing.”

A young man.

During a mental wellbeing session at InZone with Community Health Learners.

Mental Health Starts With Being Heard

Sometimes, healing begins not with a solution but with a conversation or a brief moment alone, away from the noise.

Organizations, community leaders, health workers, teachers, families, and peers all have a role to play in creating environments where people feel heard and supported. 

Here are a few ways you and your workplace can promote mental wellbeing:

• Integrate mental wellbeing across programming: Mental wellbeing should not be treated as a standalone health issue. Humanitarian actors and agencies should embed mental health and psychosocial support across education, livelihoods, protection, health, and youth programmes. This ensures that services become more holistic and better equipped to address the interconnected challenges that affect individuals and communities.

• Invest in community-led mental wellbeing initiatives: Communities are often the first sources of support. Investing in these initiatives that provide safe spaces, peer support, and awareness programmes ensures that mental wellbeing interventions are sustainable and responsive to community needs.

As Kakuma and Kalobeyei continue to grow, conversations about livelihoods, education, healthcare, and opportunity remain essential. Equally important is ensuring that mental wellbeing is part of those conversations. 

Mental wellbeing is a core component of humanitarian response and long-term development.