African Oral History Quarterly | 17 September 2008
Peer Facilitation in Adolescent Mental Health Support Groups within Nairobi Slums: A Mixed Methods Study,
W, a, n, g, e, c, i, M, u, t, h, o, m, i, ,, K, i, b, e, t, C, h, e, r, o, n, o
Abstract
Adolescents in Nairobi slums face unique challenges related to mental health due to socio-economic pressures and limited access to support services. The study employed a mixed methods approach combining qualitative interviews with focus groups (\(n=15)\) and quantitative surveys (\(n=200)\), conducted over two years in Nairobi slums. Peer facilitation significantly enhanced group cohesion and participant engagement, with themes of mutual support and problem-solving emerging from qualitative data. Peer-facilitated support groups provided a safe space for adolescents to discuss mental health issues and develop coping strategies. Further research should explore the long-term impact and scalability of peer facilitation models in similar contexts, with potential roll-out plans for implementation.