Safaricom Partners With Minet To Hold A Mental Health Forum In Nairobi County

The Forum aims to address how sustainable mental health programmes are in the workplace today.

Nairobi, 5^th December 2023

Safaricom, in partnership with Minet, have held a mental health forum to spearhead an imperative initiative addressing mental health concerns within the Kenyan private sector. Together, these two industry leaders have orchestrated a pivotal Mental Health Forum held in Nairobi, drawing influential stakeholders and decision-makers.

The forum, themed “Unlocking Minds, Transforming Futures” aimed to broaden perspectives on how current metal health initiatives may be affecting our key resources as employers: our employees.

“At Safaricom, our employees’ total wellbeing is of paramount importance and mental health has been identified as one of the areas of great concern. We have put in place various policies and programs that support our staff in maintaining sound mental health or reaching out for assistance when faced with challenges. Through this forum, we hope to demystify mental health and related issues, and that's why we are partnering with Minet. To achieve this, we believe leadership should be at the forefront and center of the conversation.” said Paul Kasimu, the Chief Human Resources Officer, Safaricom PLC.

As an award-winning top employer, Safaricom has put in place various policies that promote employee wellbeing among other factors, such as the medical board chaired by the CEO, Peter Ndegwa, that includes all executive committee members. The telco company also has a fully-fledged mental health and safety department as well as professional support and employee engagement programs.

According to the World Health Organization, 75% of employees complain they have experienced a mental health problem in the workplace. Additionally, women in full time employment are twice as likely to have a common mental health problem as full time employed men.

“Today marks the beginning of an important journey towards fostering a healthy workplace. Mental Health continues to be a very important topic that needs to be addressed, especially in the workplace. At Minet, we believe that a workforce that feels supported, understood, and empowered is not just productive; it becomes the driving force that propels our organization ahead in the competitive landscape, said Lydia Macharia, Director Employee Benefits, Minet.

Minet is regarded as a thought leader in the provision of bespoke Employee Benefits, where wellness benefits feature prominently as one of the most sought-after solution for employees.