A Scholarly Journey Driven by a Passion for Mental Health

What began as an academic pursuit to understand mental health, has evolved into a strong interest and desire to understand the impact of climate change and environmental issues on paediatric and mental health. I am passionate about addressing the mental health gap in low-resource settings. So, when I learnt about this fellowship, I could not let it pass. I believed it would provide me with the skills and structures that I need to grow in this field and make a meaningful impact in addressing the mental health gap.

Children, especially in low-resource settings, are affected by environmental and climate stressors, yet there is limited localised research guiding response strategies. I am exploring how climate-related hazards (like extreme heat, floods, or droughts) affect children’s vulnerability and long-term development. With many climatic disasters being reported in Kenya, I hope to develop evidence that will shape policy and inform decisions related to psychosocial well-being with the goal of improving community resilience, guiding interventions, and ultimately protecting vulnerable populations, with a particular focus on children.

Academic mentorship has proven instrumental in this evidence development process. I feel so lucky to work with my supervisors; Prof Amina Abubakar and Dr Bilha Chepchirchir. Dr Bilha has extensive experience in pollution monitoring, looking at ecological and health risks associated with chemicals in the environment. Under Dr Chepchirchir’s guidance, I have progressed from executing predetermined conducts and procedures to formulating independent research questions and analytical frameworks. This, and collaborating with other researchers has been significantly valuable, and has helped me stay on track.

The new experience has completely reshaped how I understand health research and its potential. I once saw it as merely collecting data and publishing results, but now I recognize it as a vital tool for addressing real-world challenges, especially in mental health and climate-related issues. Through my research, I have gained insights into the ways environmental stressors affect the well-being of vulnerable communities. This has deepened my commitment to conducting practical and inclusive research that improves lives at the intersection of mental health and climate.

I am glad I was given the opportunity to be part of this fellowship: the experience of working with people who are passionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated individuals has been both inspiring and motivating. One experience I found exciting was going to the field – especially during data collection. The interactions with communities and their leaders, and seeing the challenges first-hand has been eye opening.

Since joining the program, I have acquired several valuable skills and experiences in the research field. These include data analysis—both qualitative and quantitative—research proposal development, and academic writing through preparing my thesis.

I have also developed expertise in research ethics, conducting literature reviews and synthesis, using referencing tools, and communicating scientific concepts effectively.  My experience collecting data in the field has enhanced my understanding of community engagement and data collection tools.

As I prepare for my advanced graduate study, my goal remains clear: to generate methodologically sound, ethically conducted, and policy-relevant research that addresses pressing population health challenges.

Within the next three years, I intend to pursue a Master’s Degree in Global Mental Health. I am particularly interested in exploring the intersection between mental health and climate change, specifically how environmental stressors affect psychological well-being, especially in vulnerable communities. My exposure to climate change has sparked an interest in this field, and I aim to contribute to research that supports climate-resilient mental health systems and community-based interventions.