Faith Waigi, a young leader advancing men’s health and mental well-being through medical technology, is a sixth-year medical student at Kenyatta University pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.
She currently serves as the Secretary General of the Association of Kenyatta University Medical Students, where she plays an active role in student leadership and health initiatives.
In this article, she is featured sharing her perspective on medical innovation, the realities affecting men’s mental health, and the future she envisions for healthcare in Kenya.
“I’m a mental health enthusiast, a scientific researcher, and an IFMSA Medical Education trainer. A co-founder of Mind Over Matter, a mental health and wellness association in Kenyatta University.”
Faith Waigi
Faith Waigi describes herself as “a mental health enthusiast, a scientific researcher, and an IFMSA Medical Education trainer.” She is a sixth-year medical student at Kenyatta University and one of the co-founders of Mind Over Matter, a student-led mental health and wellness association that creates a safe, judgment-free space for open conversations.
Her passion for mental health began in her first year of medical school. She explains how medical school “tests your limits: intellectually, physically, and mentally,” and how struggling to keep up with the heavy workload affected her own well-being. Getting through that phase made her more aware of the importance of mental health, and it pushed her toward advocacy.
Research also became an important part of her growth. She views it as one of the most essential non-clinical areas in medicine and a core foundation of how the profession keeps advancing. This understanding pushed her to explore research more seriously in her fourth year, eventually leading to a research elective at the KEMRI Wellcome Trust Programme, which she says opened her eyes to what research can really do.
With technology now shaping many parts of everyday life, she has also become interested in how digital tools can improve healthcare, and this has slowly grown into one of the areas she enjoys exploring most.
“Today, technology is at the helm of everything we do and it’s only fitting that l be thoroughly obsessed about it.”
Technology, Innovation & Health Advancement
Faith believes technology has already been part of healthcare for decades, and while the progress hasn’t been without challenges, it continues to open new possibilities for improving mental health. One of the areas she highlights is early detection.
She explains that tools like wearables can pick up small changes in someone’s daily patterns, things like sleep, movement, how fast they type, or even how often they interact with others. These subtle shifts can help flag when a young person might be heading toward a mental health crisis, giving room for earlier support.
“Technology can be used to promote early detection via Digital Phenotyping via Wearables where passive data (sleep patterns, movement or activity levels, typing speed, and frequency of social interaction) can be used to detect significant, subtle changes that often precede a mental health crisis (depression, mania, or self-harm risk).”
Faith’s focus on technology in mental health is timely, especially considering challenges like those I wrote about in March 2025 in The Rise of Digital Dementia Among Young People. In that article, I looked at how increasing screen time and digital habits are affecting young people’s mental health, showing why tools that support early detection, awareness, and care are so important.
She also sees a big role for technology in creating awareness. Simple, clear digital content, especially short videos that break down myths, explain symptoms, or offer coping tips, can help young people understand mental health better and reduce misinformation.
When it comes to men’s health, she believes digital platforms can make a real difference by offering privacy and reducing the pressure many men feel when seeking help. Online consultations, health apps, and accessible websites can encourage men to reach out without fear of judgment. She adds that these tools also make healthcare more convenient, while features like lifestyle tracking and personalized feedback can guide men to make better health decisions using clear, data-backed information.
“Effective digital health can also track individual lifestyle behaviors and provide personalized feedback backed with factual data.”
Men’s Mental Health Realities & Future Vision
From Faith’s perspective, men in Kenya still face several obstacles when it comes to talking about their mental health or asking for professional help. She notes that stigma from peers, cultural expectations, and the pressure to appear strong and self-reliant often hold many men back.
For some, even admitting that they need support feels difficult because it may mean stepping away from responsibilities at home, school, or work, something that comes with its own consequences. All these factors create an environment where many men choose to stay silent rather than seek care.
“Admitting that you need treatment or support from mental health specialists is hard and requires will and acceptance. This would also need you to take a break from your responsibilities, either at home, school, at work, which may come with its own repercussions so this acts as a barrier to seeking help.”
Faith Waigi
She believes young professionals and medical students have an important role to play in changing this. One of the first steps, she says, is normalizing conversations about mental health and encouraging men to understand the benefits of seeking support early. She points out that men are disproportionately affected by conditions linked to substance use, and delayed help-seeking can worsen outcomes. She sees social media as a powerful space to challenge harmful ideas around masculinity and promote healthier attitudes.
In clinical settings, she feels young medics can make a difference by including mental health checks during regular consultations and designing programs that meet men where they already are, such as workplaces or sports activities. This kind of approach, she believes, can help reduce stigma and make mental health support feel more accessible.
“As young professionals, we could lead conversations on social media to support men and challenge toxic masculinity. We can also integrate mental health screenings during routine consultations to make care more accessible.”
Looking ahead, Faith envisions a society where men feel healthier in every sense, physically, mentally, and spiritually. She hopes to see a future where men are comfortable using healthy coping mechanisms and can share their emotions openly in supportive environments.
“I envision a healthy society: physically, mentally, and spiritually. A society where men adopt healthy coping mechanisms for mental health challenges and can be free to share their struggles and emotions to an accepting society.”
Faith Waigi
Through her interest in medical technology and her growing work in mental health advocacy, she aims to contribute to building that kind of society.
Faith Waigi’s journey shows how one person’s passion and innovation can make a real difference. By combining mental health advocacy, research, and medical technology, she is uniquely advancing men’s health and healthcare in general. In a time when technology is everywhere, it can be a powerful tool to drive positive change in health. With fresh ideas and dedication, she is transforming communities and inspiring many others to rise alongside her for a healthier, more open society.
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