Iyashi Journal

Evidence-based insights on mental health, wellness, and community development

Featured Article

Dive deep into our latest featured insights on mental health and wellness

By EmilyApril 23, 20265 min read

Earth Day 2026: Why Climate Change is a Mental Health Crisis

This article examines the hidden psychological toll of climate change in Kenya. It explores how extreme weather drives acute food insecurity, triggers Environmentally driven Adverse Childhood Experiences (E-ACEs), and outlines the urgent need for trauma-informed community resilience strategies.

climatechangeeacesenvironmentaltrauma

All Articles

Explore our complete collection of evidence-based articles on mental health, wellness, and community development

15 articles

By Easter OlwandaApril 24, 20264 min read

Adverse Childhood Experiences in Kenya

This article explores the hidden crisis of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Kenya. It examines how socioeconomic stress, community violence, and trauma disrupt a child's emotional blueprint, highlighting the urgent need for trauma-informed care to help vulnerable children heal and thrive.

ACEsChildMentalHealthTraumaInformedCare

By EmilyApril 2, 20264 min read

Is mental health a crisis in Kenya? Unpacking Kenya’s mental health burden

In this article, the author examines Kenya's mental health burden, revealing how underinvestment fuels a 75% treatment gap and costs the economy KES 62.2 billion annually. She calls on all stakeholders to abandon fragmented projects and work towards united actions for longer term impact.

mentalhealthkenyamentalhealthfinancingtreatmentgap

By EmilyMarch 11, 20264 min read

The Dinosaur, the Meteorite, and the Age of AI

In this article, the author compares the sudden extinction of the dinosaurs to the rapid disruption of AI. It explores who will thrive and who will be left behind in this shifting paradigm, arguing that with intentional, ethical guidance, AI will not be our end, but our greatest evolution.

artificialintelligenceiyashiwellnessadaptability

By EmilyFebruary 10, 20265 min read

BEYOND THE HYPE: The Real Opportunities and Risks of AI in African Mental Health by James Letoo

In this article, Clinical Psychologist James Letoo explores the tension between rising mental health demand and AI solutions in Kenya. He argues for a hybrid future where technology bridges access gaps but remains a clinical tool—not a substitute—for human connection, context, and ethical care.

mentalhealthkedigitalhealth#aiinhealthcare

By EmilyFebruary 5, 20265 min read

Why willpower is overrated and why you keep eating the mandazis

With 80% of resolutions already failing, this piece argues that laziness is not the culprit. Citing research that 43% of daily actions are habitual, it explains why willpower is a finite resource. The solution is not motivation, but friction strategy: redesigning your environment for good choices

behavioralpsychologyhabitsnewyearresolutions

By EmilyJanuary 27, 20264 min read

Even good change hurts: why we grieve growth

This article uses a simple story about a child losing a milk tooth to explore the neuroscience of growth and grief. It explains why the human brain resists even positive changes like a promotion or a milestone; and offers practical strategies to cope when moving forward feels unexpectedly heavy.

growthmindsetparentingmentalhealth

By EmilyJanuary 18, 20265 min read

Beyond the death grip: My flight to France & learning to tolerate anxiety (even at 40,000 feet)

This article talks about a personal battle with flight anxiety during a trip to France. The author breaks down why logic fails to stop panic and shares how the psychological practice of willingness helped her release the death grip and tolerate anxiety at 40,000 feet.

#aviophobia#travelanxiety#mentalhealthke

By EmilyJanuary 10, 20263 min read

Why Vulnerability is a powerful tool for resilience by James Nyabera

In this powerful guest feature, James Nyabera (Founder, A MAN MUST CRY) challenges the traditional definition of masculinity that equates silence with strength. He argues that true resilience is not about endurance, but the courage to be vulnerable, offering a roadmap for men to navigate 2026 with.

#mensmentalhealth#masculinity#resilience

By EmilyJanuary 10, 20264 min read

The biology of belief: why our "why" speaks to us-Part 2

This article explores why leading with "why" is so effective and that it is not a marketing trick; but biology. Part 2 reveals how the golden circle mirrors the brain’s structure, explaining how the limbic system drives loyalty while the neocortex rationalizes it. Uncover the science of influence.

#neuroscience#leadership#marketingpsychology

By EmilyOctober 27, 20254 min read

The transformative power of starting with why-Part 1

Have you ever paused to ask yourself why you do what you do? As I built Iyashi Wellness Centre, I realized that making money is a result, not a purpose. This article breaks down the 'Golden Circle' framework and explains how defining your main belief is the first step to building an organization.

#purpose#leadership#organizationalculture

By EmilySeptember 25, 20254 min read

Navigating Clinical Practice in the age of AI for Kenyan mental health professionals

As AI rapidly reshapes clinical practice, mental health professionals in Kenya face a critical choice: passive observation or proactive leadership. This article outlines a framework for integration, emphasizing why AI must remain a tool in the hands of skilled clinicians not a replacement.

#mentalhealthkenya#artificialintelligence#clinicalpsychology

By EmilySeptember 9, 20253 min read

How to reclaim rest and boost creativity when you're running on fumes

The external peace we seek as leaders is the result of the internal stability we cultivate. This article redefines rest as a non-negotiable. Discover how to set 'enough metrics' and schedule active recovery to turn rest into your greatest competitive advantage.

#founder#wellbeing#rest

By EmilySeptember 2, 20253 min read

The founder's dilemma: does peace bring rest, or does rest bring peace?

Navigating the transition from consultant to founder, I found myself physiologically unable to rest. This piece asks question: is rest a luxury afforded by stability, or is it the non-negotiable action that creates stability in the first place?

#founderlife#mentalhealth#burnout

By EmilyAugust 12, 20254 min read

Overwhelmed at your desk? 3 psychologist-approved grounding techniques you can use in 60 seconds

When you are feeling overwhelmed at your desk, powering through is the least effective strategy. Why? Because overwhelm is a physiological state and not just a mental one. In this guide, I share three discreet, psychologist-approved grounding techniques that can help you regain calm and focus.

#workplacewellness#nairobi#iyashiwellness

By EmilyJuly 31, 20253 min read

The KES 62.2 Billion Question: Why is mental health in Kenya so underfunded, and how do we fix it?

In 2021, mental health conditions cost the Kenyan economy KES 62.2 billion in lost productivity. Yet, the sector remains underfunded. This article argues that we must stop viewing mental health as a social cost and start seeing it as a high-return investment, outlining a three-part roadmap.

#mentalhealthkenya#kenya#policy

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