A study led by the Shamiri Institute and the Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) at Aga Khan University has revealed alarming levels of childhood trauma among Kenyan adolescents, raising red flags about a looming youth mental health crisis. The research, unveiled during a stakeholder convening hosted by BMI and Shamiri, found that 1 in 5 adolescents in Kenya has experienced four or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) including abuse, neglect, and family instability, placing them at significantly higher risk of depression, anxiety and bullying.
The study findings were presented at the “Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): From Research to Policy Action” forum, a hybrid convening of researchers, policymakers, educators and mental health professionals. The event aimed to spotlight evidence-based, trauma-informed strategies to safeguard the mental well-being of Kenya’s youth.
“Childhood adversity is a public health crisis that threatens the well-being and potential of our entire generation,” said Prof. Zul Merali, Founding Director of the Brain and Mind Institute. “Through this webinar, we aimed to elevate research-informed solutions that can help Kenyan children not only survive adversity but thrive despite it. Our collective future depends on it.”
Key findings from the study include:
- 23.9% of adolescents who experienced multiple ACEs showed moderate to severe symptoms of depression.
- 21.4% showed similar levels of anxiety.
- Adolescents with only one surviving parent had 18% higher adversity scores.
- Those struggling academically were 15% more likely to have experienced ACEs.
- A strong link between ACEs and bullying was observed, especially among boys, highlighting gender-specific vulnerabilities.
Tom Osborn, Founder and CEO of the Shamiri Institute, emphasized the urgency of systemic change. “Young people in Kenya are navigating enormous emotional burdens. As a society, we can’t afford to look away. This forum is about building bridges between research, policy, and practice so that our schools become places of healing, not harm,” he said.
One of the central policy recommendations was the integration of ACE-10 screening tools (A brief screening tool that assesses exposure to 10 types of childhood trauma such as abuse, neglect or household dysfunction linked to long-term mental and physical health risks) into routine school health services, alongside the expansion of school-based mental health programs. This would mark a significant shift in treating childhood adversity not just as a health concern but as a barrier to educational achievement and long-term well-being.
Lived experience also took center stage. Wangui Wanjuki, a youth mental health advocate, shared a moving personal testimony about the long-term effects of unaddressed childhood trauma, calling for more inclusive, grounded policy approaches.
“I experienced ACEs in the form of physical abuse, gender-based violence and parental alienation,” Wanjuki said. “It is crucial not to create policies in isolation. We must involve those with lived experience to ensure that solutions are not just good on paper, but transformative in practice.”
As Kenya grapples with rising youth mental health concerns, the BMI–Shamiri collaboration marks a pivotal step in catalyzing research-driven, trauma-informed interventions that are responsive to the real experiences of young people.
