Mental Voices Africa – Brian

by

Rooted in Rights

In October 2019, Rooted in Rights collaborated with Mental Voices Africa through the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment to offer a storytelling advocacy workshop in Nairobi, Kenya. These advocacy videos were scripted, filmed, and edited all on mobile phones by the participants in a matter of days! These advocates have lived experience and are working to reduce stigma, improve access, and develop community for people with mental health disabilities.

Brian Emmanuel Mbuthia created an online open forum on Mental Health called The Stronger Forum. Here he engages especially with young adults and invites teachers, parents and caregivers as part of creating conversations around Mental Health that he has been able to set up with the help of his psychologist. He also participates in panel discussions on Mental Health in church seminars, talks and TV shows and uses these opportunities to challenge the stigma by sharing his lived experience with a Mental illness alongside helpful information in relation to mental health.

Follow him!

Twitter: @brian_innovate

Facebook: The Stronger Forum

This video is a product of a mobile phone storytelling workshop conducted by Noela Luka, Chairperson Mental Voices Africa, and Allexa Laycock, Editor Rooted in Rights. Initially supported by The Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment.

The Professional Fellows Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, the Institute for Community Inclusion for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston and Humanity and Inclusion.

Transcripts
, , ,

About Rooted In Rights

Rooted in Rights exists to amplify the perspectives of the disability community. Blog posts and storyteller videos that we publish and content we re-share on social media do not necessarily reflect the opinions or values of Rooted in Rights nor indicate an endorsement of a program or service by Rooted in Rights. We respect and aim to reflect the diversity of opinions and experiences of the disability community. Rooted in Rights seeks to highlight discussions, not direct them. Learn more about Rooted In Rights

More Posts Under Activism and Advocacy

  • A lit tea light candle in the palm of a person with brown skin and longer oval fingernails.

    Violent Ubiquity

    About a year ago, I attended a vigil for a Queer of Color happening in Capitol Hill in Seattle. The person in question had been visiting to perform and see friends when they were caught in the crossfire of a Seattle Police Department shootout. There were no news reports on the death.  No major protests.…

    , , ,
  • A march of disabled activists in power chairs, scooters, wheelchairs, and walking holding signs. A sweatshirt reads "Fatties Against Fasicsm." Signs read, "No Body is Disposable," "Housing Injustice is Anti Blackness," "Housing Justice is Disability Justice." Disabled activist and ancestor Stacey Park Milbern is in the center of the photo.

    Living Disability Justice and Fat Liberation in Such a Time As This

    I came to Health at Every Size (then body positivity, now fat liberation) in early 2013. I was in my first year of grad school – one of those rare creatures that lived on campus. I didn’t realize it initially, but listening to the body stories of my roommate – also a Black grad student…

  • A teal background with the words "ADA Americans with Disabilities Act July 26" in white font. To the left of the words, five symbols form an arrow. The symbols include a head with a wheel, and ear with crossed out sign, a representation of a person in a wheelchair, a representation of a person with a cane, and a hand over braille.

    Disability Rights Washington Reflects on 35 years with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

    July 26, 2025, marked the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – a landmark piece of legislation that expanded certain civil rights to people with disabilities. The ADA ensured inclusion and access where there had previously been segregation, exclusion, and physical barriers. In King County, Washington, Disability Rights Washington marked the moment…

    ,

More Videos