3505 - TRADITIONAL COPING MECHANISMS AND CLIMATE-LINKED MENTAL HEALTH RESILIENCE IN KENYA

Session: 3491 - CLIMATE CHANGE AND MENTAL HEALTH IN AFRICA: PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE, VULNERABILITY, AND POLICY INNOVATIONS
AUTHORS:
Naliaka Linda (Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology ~ Kakamega ~ Kenya)
Abstract text:
Despite the rising burden of climate-related psychological distress, traditional and indigenous coping mechanisms remain underutilized in formal mental health frameworks. This paper explores how cultural practices—storytelling, communal rituals, faith-based coping, and indigenous healing—contribute to resilience in climate-affected Kenyan communities. Field research in Kisii and Kajiado counties demonstrates that communities with strong traditional social networks report lower rates of severe psychological breakdown during climate crises. The paper advocates for integration of indigenous coping strategies into mental health interventions, ensuring culturally appropriate, scalable, and sustainable models for resilience.