Online
Event Type
ISSUP Webinar
Attendance
Online
Costs
Free
Language(s)

English

Speaker
MERCY KARANJA
HARRISON Mwaura Irungu
chrispus kimaru
Themes
Substances
Mental Health
Tags (Keywords)
problem gambling
Substance Use Disorder

Understanding Gambling Addiction and Its Links to Substance Use Disorders & Mental Health in Kenya.

Submitted by Kwadwo Adu Boakye-Yiadom -
ISSUP Kenya Flyer


ISSUP Kenya would like to invite you to its webinar on Understanding Gambling Addiction and Its Links to Substance Use Disorders & Mental Health in Kenya.

Date: 12th June 2025

Time: 6:00 PM EAT | 4:00 PM London | 11 AM ET

Register for the Webinar

The webinar will discuss the current trends in gambling and substance use disorders (SUDs) in Kenya, their implications for health, treatment interventions, and the sharing of lived experiences.

The subject matter is gambling disorder—a behavioral addiction characterized by an uncontrollable urge to gamble despite harmful consequences to one’s personal, social, or financial well-being. Gambling addiction and substance use disorder (SUD) are closely related in several important ways. Both are classified as addictive disorders and share similar biological, psychological, and social mechanisms. Understanding this nexus forms an intersection in interventions.

Target Audience:

  • The webinar targets a broad audience, including policymakers, psychologists, counselors, practitioners, and related health professionals.

Learning Outcomes:

The overall goals of the session are to:

  • Raise awareness of gambling addiction as both a public health and mental health concern;

  • Explore the interconnections between gambling addiction, substance use disorders (SUDs), and other mental health conditions;

  • Promote informed approaches to prevention, early identification, and integrated treatment.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

  1. Distinguish the similarities and differences between gambling addiction and substance use disorders.

  2. Examine shared risk and protective factors.

  3. Evaluate evidence-based treatment strategies.

  4. Discuss how stigma and under-recognition impact access to treatment.

Presenter:

Dr. Mercy Karanja M.B.Ch.B, MMed. (Psych); Consultant Psychiatrist

Dr. Mercy Karanja is a Consultant Psychiatrist working with the Ministry of Health in Kenya as the Director of Mental Health and the CEO of the Kenya Board of Mental Health. She is also the President of the Kenya Psychiatric Association and a Board Member at NACADA, where she represents the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council. With over 15 years of progressive experience in mental health, Dr. Karanja has applied her expertise in various roles, including clinical practitioner, policymaker, technical advisor, and trainer in the field of psychiatry. She is committed to ensuring accessible and equitable mental health services for all through comprehensive mental health reforms and evidence-based policies. Her career vision includes fostering multisectoral collaborations, enhancing mental health literacy, and integrating mental health services into primary healthcare systems to create a holistic and sustainable approach to mental health care in Kenya and beyond.

Harrison Mwaura; Addiction Counsellor

Harrison Mwaura is a Master’s student in Counselling Psychology and a rehabilitation facility manager based in Kenya. He is also a recovering gambling and alcohol addict, whose journey from addiction to recovery fuels his passion for helping others. Harrison previously worked in the banking sector, but his gambling addiction led to the misappropriation of funds and the eventual loss of his job. After hitting rock bottom and undergoing rehabilitation in 2021, he turned his life around and committed himself to supporting individuals struggling with addiction. Today, he manages operations at Wonderpeace Wellness Centre while providing counselling and relapse prevention services. Drawing from both personal experience and professional training, Harrison offers a powerful voice in gambling harm awareness and addiction recovery.

Chrispus Githae Kimaru

Chrispus Githae Kimaru is an addiction counsellor, an International Certified Addiction Professional (ICAP I), and a recovery and mental health champion in private practice. He also serves as a trainer at SAPTA in Nairobi, Kenya. Holding a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology (Addiction Studies), Chrispus envisions contributing to drug demand reduction through his initiatives to engage youth both in and out of school.

Moderators:

Catherine Muthiani 

Counselling Psychologist and Deputy President ISSUP Kenya Chapter; Catherine is the Head of Training, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Africa (SAPTA)

References:

 


Webinars and online events delivered and hosted by the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) are provided for informational purposes only. They are educational in nature and do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.