The professionals including clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, medical psychologists and counselors said Kenya had a worrying happiness index occupying position 124 out of 156 countries globally.
They said neglecting this important aspect of the society has led to many people gravitating into depression causing mental illnesses that could have been prevented, saying this has led to numerous suicide cases.
They observed that psychiatrists and psychologists training heavily relied on foreign content and curriculum that does not resonate with the Kenyan context.
They underscored the need to have local evidence based research that will help produce mental health workers who can address the Kenyan problems.
The Rehabilitation and addicts Association of Kenya chairman Boniface Ndirangu called upon the government to consider setting aside at least 1percent of the national budget to cater for the mental health of Kenyans noting that this will increase the access to quality care.
The taskforce will be at the school of monetary studies tomorrow listening to workplace concerns relating to mental health.
