Addiction and mental health are no longer separate concerns—they are deeply interconnected forces silently tearing through Kenya’s social fabric. According to Henry Monyancha, a psychotherapist and Assistant Dean of Students at Kisii University, the nation must confront this vicious cycle with urgency, honesty, and compassion. He notes that; “There is no health without mental health. Mental health is as important as physical health. And if ignored, both addiction and mental illness become societal time bombs,”
How Mental Illness Can Lead to Addiction
As social pressures mount, many young people—and especially men—are slipping into unhealthy coping mechanisms. When feelings of worthlessness, depression, or anxiety go unchecked, some turn to substances or behaviors that offer temporary relief. They tend to keep themselves up on toes and match their counterparts who are not in their same state,“People resort to drugs, betting, or even pornography not because they are evil but because they are seeking an escape,” Monyancha explains. “Mental health issues like loneliness or stress can push someone into addiction without them even realizing it.”
In many cases, emotional suppression is the root cause. In Kenyan society, particularly among men, vulnerability is discouraged. Men are not supposed to show any kind of weakness , especially falling pray of things like being emotional, hence they suppress them not knowing they are planting a big problem to their future,“Men don’t talk. They keep things in. They are socialized to suppress feelings. Over time, this silence becomes a disease,” Monyancha warns.
When a young person feels misunderstood, unsupported, or constantly pressured to succeed, they may chase dopamine spikes—through alcohol, excessive screen time, or risky betting behavior—to feel better. This has been the trend to the young men to ensure they live up to the standards the society expects them. Especially after circumcisions, they are not supposed to be weak, they are supposed to man up, as expected by cultural norms, which in turn when they face challenges and they can’t speak up, they opt for crude ways to solve it , activities that when repeatedly done leads to — Addiction.
When Addiction Triggers Mental Health Disorders
On the flip side, addiction can also create mental health problems. The short-term high of gambling, drug use, or internet addiction often leads to long-term consequences—like depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. This is because the tend to keep doing it even when you are not in a position to do it, makes one to struggle and fight to achieve it, as a result mental health problems comes in.
“I have a family member who got into betting. It started small—just trying his luck. But soon, he sold cows and drained his savings. Now he’s in debt, stressed, and broken,” Monyancha recounts.
The addiction, he explains, did not just harm his finances. It led to shame, isolation, and mental instability.“Addiction doesn’t end at behavior. It eats away at your identity, your confidence, your relationships. You become a shell of who you were,” he says.
Monyancha is particularly concerned about behavioral addictions, including phone overuse, pornography, and social media addiction—which are often overlooked because they are not substances, but are just as harmful. This addictions which are “silent” and people can rarely notice, end up killing the being, the character and morals of human beings. The end result is living with people whose spirits are long gone but the body still walks
Some addictions don’t come in a bottle or roll. They come through your screen. And they destroy silently.
Addiction or Mental Illness: Which Comes First?
In most cases, Monyancha notes, it’s not about which comes first. It’s about a cycle—one that feeds itself.
“A person struggling with anxiety may start drinking to calm their nerves. Then the alcohol becomes a dependency, which causes more stress, which makes them drink more. That’s the cycle,” he says.
And because of cultural stigma, people suffer in silence. This leads to choice of activities to keep tyhem going and forget the suffering which in turn leads to mental illness;
“In our communities, seeking therapy is seen as a weakness. So people self-medicate with behaviors that only worsen their condition.”
Breaking the Cycle: What Must Be Done
Monyancha believes the solution lies in connection and early intervention.
“Before asking your child for a report card, ask for their heart,” he says, quoting Proverbs 23:26. “My son, give me your heart.” Meaning, parents should not subject their children to depression that will later become the source of their long burden suffering from mental illness.
He urges families to be emotionally present. Parents must not just provide school fees or food—but time, listening, and unconditional support. This is to ensure the harmony is there in the family and reduce the burden members might be suffering out there , which will then reduce chances of suffering from mrntal illness or other related challenges
He also calls on institutions—schools, churches, government—to treat mental health and addiction as public health priorities.
“We must stop outsourcing parenting to teachers and therapy to prayer alone. This is a national responsibility,” he says.
Don’t wait Until Addiction Knocks: Seek Help Early
Whether mental illness leads to addiction or addiction triggers mental illness, Monyancha insists the end result is the same—emotional, psychological, and often physical ruin.
“You are not alone. Speak up. Seek help. Mental health is a human right. We must treat it as such.”
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