Author:Zhiya Zheng
This is a short documentary about youth mental health in Kenya’s informal settlements.
In the film, the director visits slum communities in Nairobi and speaks with mental health NGOs, community workers, and young people to understand the challenges they face.
In Nairobi’s informal settlements, mental health issues among young people are becoming increasingly visible. Many adolescents grow up in environments marked by poverty, violence, and instability. Common mental health challenges include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma, and anxiety.
The causes behind these issues are complex and deeply rooted in everyday life. They include long-term poverty, lack of family support, drug abuse，and gender-based violence. For many young people, mental distress is not an abstract issue, but something closely connected to their daily struggles.
At the same time, the film also documents the efforts of local NGOs. Through mental health education, counselling, peer support groups, and community-based care, these organizations provide emotional support and practical help to young people, helping them rebuild a sense of hope.
The film hopes to raise greater awareness of youth mental health issues in Kenya’s informal settlements, while also highlighting the people and organizations working quietly within communities to create change.
Youth For SDG 