IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v9y2025i13p207-226.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Community Radio as a Tool for Youth Mental Health Awareness: Analysis of the Pass the Mic Show Content on Pamoja FM in Kibra Sub-County, Nairobi, Kenya

Author

Listed:
  • Allan Muchemi

    (Postgraduate Student, Faculty of Media and Communication, Multimedia University of Kenya)

  • Idah Gatwiri Muchunku

    (Associate Professor, Faculty of Media and Communication, Multimedia University of Kenya)

  • Paul Jinaro

    (Lecturer, Faculty of Media and Communication, Multimedia University of Kenya)

Abstract

Community radio is an important tool for health communication, drawing its greatest appeal from its ability to address the psychological and social concerns of local audiences through culturally resonant programming. Community radio stations are regarded as powerful sources of information, broadcasting on a small scale and predominantly serving underserved and marginalized areas, such as slums. A growing consensus acknowledges the high prevalence of mental health challenges among youth, with slum settlements projected to lead in these figures, largely due to socioeconomic and sociocultural factors. Given the potential of local broadcasting to create awareness of various health issues, including mental health, and the significant dearth of scholarly literature on the effectiveness of community radio mental health content in the Kenyan context, this study examined the influence of the Pass the Mic Show’s content in this regard. The study was guided by the Health Belief Model and adopted a qualitative research design utilizing content analysis and in-depth interviews. Eight purposively selected episodes of Pass the Mic Show were analyzed alongside in-depth interviews with nine youth listeners selected through snowball sampling. Data analysis involved content analysis of the radio episodes and thematic analysis of the interview data, with findings presented in a narrative format. The findings revealed that the program effectively created mental health awareness among listeners by informing them about factors that increase susceptibility to mental health challenges and emphasizing the severity of these issues. It also highlighted the benefits of taking mental health-related actions, such as help-seeking, while addressing the barriers that may hinder such efforts. The study recommended the need for training journalists on the appropriate handling of mental health discussions, as presenting mental illness predominantly in a negative context, particularly in association with suicidal ideation as observed in the program, can perpetuate stigma and reinforce negative attitudes towards mental illness.

Suggested Citation

  • Allan Muchemi & Idah Gatwiri Muchunku & Paul Jinaro, 2025. "Community Radio as a Tool for Youth Mental Health Awareness: Analysis of the Pass the Mic Show Content on Pamoja FM in Kibra Sub-County, Nairobi, Kenya," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(13), pages 207-226, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:i:13:p:207-226
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-9-issue-13/207-226.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/community-radio-as-a-tool-for-youth-mental-health-awareness-analysis-of-the-pass-the-mic-show-content-on-pamoja-fm-in-kibra-sub-county-nairobi-kenya/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Salima Meherali & Neelam Punjani & Samantha Louie-Poon & Komal Abdul Rahim & Jai K. Das & Rehana A. Salam & Zohra S. Lassi, 2021. "Mental Health of Children and Adolescents Amidst COVID-19 and Past Pandemics: A Rapid Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Monica H. Swahn & Jacqueline Nassaka & Anna Nabulya & Jane Palmier & Seneca Vaught, 2022. "A Qualitative Assessment of Place and Mental Health: Perspectives of Young Women Ages 18–24 Living in the Urban Slums of Kampala, Uganda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Margaret Gallagher & Caitlin O’Leary & Aimee McGreal-Ballone & Richard Duffy, 2023. "The portrayal of mental health in Irish mainstream news media," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(2), pages 467-475, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Margarida Frade dos Santos & Celeste Simões & Anabela Caetano Santos & Paula Lebre & Ilaria Grazzani, 2022. "Does Online Implementation Make a Difference in the Effects of a Mental Health Curriculum at Schools?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Francesco Demaria & Stefano Vicari, 2023. "Adolescent Distress: Is There a Vaccine? Social and Cultural Considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-11, January.
    3. Eleonora Marzilli & Luca Cerniglia & Renata Tambelli & Elena Trombini & Leonardo De Pascalis & Alessandra Babore & Carmen Trumello & Silvia Cimino, 2021. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Families’ Mental Health: The Role Played by Parenting Stress, Parents’ Past Trauma, and Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Anna Maria Werling & Susanne Walitza & Stephan Eliez & Renate Drechsler, 2022. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health Care of Children and Adolescents in Switzerland: Results of a Survey among Mental Health Care Professionals after One Year of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Daniel Acosta & Yui Fujii & Diana Joyce-Beaulieu & K. D. Jacobs & Anthony T. Maurelli & Eric J. Nelson & Sarah L. McKune, 2021. "Psychosocial Health of K-12 Students Engaged in Emergency Remote Education and In-Person Schooling: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-21, August.
    6. Luigi Aldieri, 2023. "Il ruolo degli aspetti non monetari per la determinazione della situazione di benessere: Un’analisi regionale in Italia," Regional Economy, , vol. 7(Q2), pages 47088-47088.
    7. Julio Torales & Iván Barrios & Juan Edgar Tullo-Gómez & Osvaldo Melgarejo & Nora Gómez & Viviana Riego & Rodrigo Navarro & Oscar García & Pamela Figueredo & José Almirón-Santacruz & Tomás Caych, 2023. "Suicides among Children and Adolescents in Paraguay: An 18-year National Exploratory Study (2004–2022)," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(7), pages 1649-1657, November.
    8. Andi Muhammad Tri Sakti & Siti Zaiton Mohd Ajis & Arina Anis Azlan & Hyung Joon Kim & Elizabeth Wong & Emma Mohamad, 2022. "Impact of COVID-19 on School Populations and Associated Factors: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-17, March.
    9. Panagis Galiatsatos & Vanya Jones & Jacqueline Bryan & Meghan Brown & Olivia Banks & Brittany Martin & Megan Collins & Catherine Ling & Mindi B. Levin & Audrey Johnson & Alicia Wilson & Annette Anders, 2023. "The Health Education and Training (HEAT) Corps: A Medical–Community Collaboration Response during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-8, January.
    10. Choi, Namkee G. & Nathan Marti, C. & Choi, Bryan Y., 2024. "Serious suicidal thoughts, suicide plans, and mental health service use among youth during the COVID-19 pandemic," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    11. Ákos Levente Tóth & Zsuzsanna Kívés & Etelka Szovák & Réka Kresák & Sára Jeges & Bendegúz Kertai & Imre Zoltán Pelyva, 2022. "Sense of Coherence and Self-Rated Aggression of Adolescents during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic, with a Focus on the Effects of Animal Assisted Activities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.
    12. Katharina Werner & Ludger Woessmann, 2021. "The Legacy of Covid-19 in Education," CESifo Working Paper Series 9358, CESifo.
    13. Ana Paula Oliveira & Joana Rita Nobre & Henrique Luis & Luis Soares Luis & Lara Guedes Pinho & Núria Albacar-Riobóo & Carlos Sequeira, 2022. "Social Media Use and Its Association with Mental Health and Internet Addiction among Portuguese Higher Education Students during COVID-19 Confinement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.
    14. Lisanne Vonk & Iris Eekhout & Tim Huijts & Mark Levels & Maria Jansen, 2024. "School Health Promotion, the Body Mass Index z-Score, and Psychosocial Health in Primary Schools of the Netherlands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-14, August.
    15. Markus Stracke & Miriam Heinzl & Anne Dorothee Müller & Kristin Gilbert & Anne Amalie Elgaard Thorup & Jean Lillian Paul & Hanna Christiansen, 2023. "Mental Health Is a Family Affair—Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Associations between Mental Health Problems in Parents and Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, March.
    16. Tytti P. Pasanen & Anna Kajosaari, 2023. "Special Issue: Place, Space, and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-3, March.
    17. Orit Shapiro & Rachel Nissanholtz Gannot & Gizell Green & Avi Zigdon & Moti Zwilling & Ariela Giladi & Lilach Ben-Meir & Marques Adilson & Sharon Barak & Yossi Harel-Fisch & Riki Tesler, 2022. "Risk Behaviors, Family Support, and Emotional Health among Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Israel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, March.
    18. Hassall, Alison & McKenna, Sarah & Pasalich, Dave S., 2024. "How does kinship and foster care differ on caregiver-child relationship quality and child and caregiver mental health?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    19. Hexiao Ding & Ziruo Xu & Wangjing Hu & Yannan Guo & Cailing Wang & Sicheng Li & Zhengyang Hui & Jing Wang & Xinran Peng & Wei Xia, 2023. "Changes of stressful life events, coping strategies and mental health among youths in the pre- and post-coronavirus 2019 pandemic era: A cross-sectional study," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(8), pages 2018-2030, December.
    20. Devin P. Adams & Jasmine R. Holt & Jenna A. Martin & Danielle M. Houpy & Kathryn A. Hollenbach, 2022. "The Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on PHQ Depression Screening Scores for High School Athletes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-9, August.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:i:13:p:207-226. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.