Get help for mental health: where to go, what SHA covers and your rights
Ministry of Health and Kenya Board of Mental Health · sources read 2 Oct 2026
If you or someone else is in danger right now, call 999 or 112. Otherwise, go to your nearest SHA-contracted health centre or dispensary for free counselling and psychosocial support; SHA also covers specialist treatment, admission and medicines for mental health conditions.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- Where
- Any SHA-contracted dispensary, health centre or hospital; emergencies 999 or 112; alcohol and drugs NACADA 1192
Steps
- If someone may hurt themselves or others, call 999 or 112 straight away.
- Go to an SHA-contracted dispensary or health centre (level 2 or 3) and ask for counselling or mental health support.
- If you need more, the facility can refer you to a hospital for specialist treatment or admission, which SHA covers.
- For alcohol or drug problems, call the free 24-hour NACADA helpline 1192.
Watch out
- SHA pays for mental health outpatient care at its contracted level 2, 3 and some level 4 facilities, so check that the facility is contracted.
- Long-term medicines for mental health conditions are part of SHA's cover, so ask the facility to bill SHA.
- Admission for mental health counts towards SHA's yearly limit of 180 inpatient days.
Who can apply
- Everyone. The Constitution gives every person the right to the highest standard of health, and that includes mental health.
Official sources (6)
- Mental Health (MoH Kenya) mental.health.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Benefit Tariffs sha.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Social Health Insurance Fund sha.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Emergency, Chronic & Critical Illness Fund sha.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Service Charter (Ministry of Interior and National Administration) interior.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Kenya Police Service home page kenyapolice.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
