AK to start mental health programs across the country - Korir

Athletics Kenya is planning to come up with mental health programs across the country that will see athletes receive counseling from professionals, Nairobi branch chairman Barnaba Korir has revealed.

This comes in the wake of untimely deaths of Olympian Ages Tirop and sprinter Edith Muthoni, both alleged to have been murdered by their husbands.

Korir said they have already come up with a proposal that will be presented to the Ministry of Sports on November 31st.

“We have come up with various programs different from what we had been doing initially in the last five years. We will change the format so that we be asking them to tell us the challenges they are facing and how they want the federation, the community and the government to assist them instead of telling just them what to do,” said Korir.

Korir added they will capitalise on upcoming athletics events where they will work with regional coordinators across the country to enhance effectiveness of the program.

“We will continue educating them on matters doping financial management and now this new mental health plan will target even the middle level athletes and further go to the upcoming athletes, like the ones who represented us in the World Under-20 Championship because they are the future,” added Korir.

Korir who is also the Chairman of Youth Development at Athletics Kenya said they are also looking forward to extending the initiative in schools.

“We are planning engage the Ministry of Education so that we can also involve those in primary and secondary schools, they can assist in implementing the programs since it’s a situation that is affecting everyone.”

“The program that will start in the next two weeks will  target 14 centers across the country, including Kisii ,South Rift, Central Rift, Kericho, Nandi Eldoret, Iten, Machakos, Nyahururu and all the places that we know there is a high level of concentration for our athletes,” the Korir told Citizen Digital.