logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
19m 48s

Where do Africa’s Gen Z's turn to for he...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Hidden behind the fearlessness displayed by Kenyan youths during recent anti-government protests could be a mountain of mental health challenges.

A mental health expert says this is linked to the extra responsibilities young people are having to take up in a continent where the median age is 19.

But while mental health awareness is high among the youth, access to mental health services remains limited.

In this episode of Africa Daily Alan Kasujja talks to Tom Osborn- the founder of the Shamiri Institute which uses a peer-based model to support young people in navigating their mental health challenges.

He argues that the growth in activism among the youth – often honed on social media – is intrinsically linked to the mental health of young people.

We also hear from young people on their mental health experiences.

Up next
Oct 27
Tanzanian elections: What issues are young people concerned about?
As Tanzania gears up for elections on 29 October, we hear from two young people about the issues that matter to them and whether youth concerns have been featured in the electoral campaigns.How a young Senegalese footballer's dream of joining a professional club ended in tragedy ... Show More
33m 44s
Oct 23
Focus on Africa: Hundreds of stolen social media identities used to spread propaganda
A BBC investigation uncovers dozens of social accounts using stolen identities of Somali and Muslim influencers and posting political propaganda content. We hear more about what was uncovered and who might be behind this widespread operation.Chad’s parliament has overwhelmingly a ... Show More
32m 11s
Oct 21
Focus on Africa Can DRC be declared ebola free?
The last ebola patient in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been released from a treatment centre in Kasai province. Can the country now be declared free of this latest outbreak?What is behind the escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea over control of the Red Sea ... Show More
29m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
Supporting mental health for youth of color, with Alfiee Breland-Noble, PhD
Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, a psychologist who has spent decades working to advance the mental health of youth of color, was selected as one of 12 global leaders to receive a $20 million grant-making fund from philanthropist Melinda French Gates. Dr. Alfiee discusses the state of y ... Show More
29m 58s
Jul 2024
Rethinking mental health
In the US, police officers spend about a fifth of their time responding to mental health crises. This is something they are often not trained for, and figures also show that people with untreated mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed during a police encounter.We go ... Show More
22m 59s
Oct 2015
Teenage Mental Health
As evidence accumulates that mental health problems are on the rise amongst adolescents, are services keeping up? Claudia Hammond is joined by a panel of experts to discuss teenage mental health.Professor Shirley Reynolds, Dr Dickon Bevington, Kimberley Robinson and Sarah Hulyer ... Show More
27m 52s
Dec 2024
SBC in Mental Health
It is estimated that globally, 1 in 7 young people between 10 and 19-year-old experience mental health conditions that remain largely unrecognized and untreated. How can something so prevalent often remain invisible? What can SBC do to bring mental health forward and connect thos ... Show More
25m 52s
Feb 2024
EP295 Can banning phones in school help solve the youth mental health crisis? (with Dr. Jean Twenge)
<p>There has been a significant increase in mental health issues among young people in America since 2012, including anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide attempts, and suicide. Contrary to popular belief, these trends started before the pandemic, with rates of major depression ... Show More
29m 24s
Mar 2023
Why is it SO HARD to be a Good Asian Kid?
🎙️ Join Dr. K as he discusses the challenges faced by Asian-American kids in today's world. High competition in education and the job market often leads to a mental health crisis, with high suicide rates among Asian-American youth. Dr. K explores cultural factors contributing to ... Show More
24m 37s
Sep 2024
Smartphones and children, mental health labels and climate anxiety
Smartphones are bad for the mental health of children and adolescents. At least, that’s the popular perception that has led to calls for smartphones to be banned for children under a certain age, with numerous media reports drumming home the narrative that smartphones are damagin ... Show More
27m 52s
Oct 2022
One Thing: Unpacking America’s Mental Health Crisis
A new survey from CNN in partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that nine out of 10 adults believe that there’s a mental health crisis in the US today. We explore what’s driving that sentiment, the possible solutions, and why an influential task force has recommended ... Show More
15m 51s
Oct 2024
Why We Need to Rethink Mental Illness with Sarah Fay
In this episode, Sarah Fay brings a unique blend of personal experiences to the conversation around mental health recovery and explores why we need to rethink mental illness. Sarah's journey of recovering from mental illness underscores the complexities and challenges individuals ... Show More
1h 7m
Apr 2025
Audio long read: Do smartphones and social media really harm teens’ mental health?
Research shows that, over the past two decades, rates of mental illness have been increasing in adolescents in many countries. While some scientists point to soaring use of smartphones and social media as a key driver for this trend, others say the evidence does not show a large ... Show More
17m 33s