Kenya is among the countries in Africa that are set to reap from TikTok’s $2.3 million (about Ksh297 million) global mental health fund announced on Thursday.
The country, with at least 29.2 per cent of Kenyans using TikTok according to the Communications Authority of Kenya, has been chosen among the beneficiaries of the kitty, which will sponsor locally based mental health support and prevention efforts.
In Kenya, Mental360 is the organisation that has been selected for the funding that will be directed towards supporting and developing locally relevant, evidence-based content that raises
awareness, reduces stigma, and encourages open dialogue around mental health.
TikTok is leveraging partners like Mental360 to offer assistance, including counselling, advice, free psychological support, and other essential services to those in need.
According to the social media giant, the expansion of the fund to Africa is part of a raft of changes being made to the app to promote mental health efforts.
In the new mental health measures announced in Johannesburg, South Africa, TikTok has expanded local in-app helplines and introduced an industry-first meditation feature for all TikTok users.
All this is on top of TikTok's #MentalHealthMatters campaign, which promotes positive mental health practices. The global gaganolt hopes that together, these efforts will support balanced digital habits, providing communities with access to reliable information.
“TikTok is committed to user safety and community well-being and provides tools and protections to help our community enjoy their experience on the platform. But to achieve this, we all need to play a very vital role in fostering a secure and respectful environment,” noted Mercy Kimaku, TikTok’s Regional Risk Prevention Lead for Sub-Saharan Africa.
These developments were announced during its inaugural Digital Well-being Summit, bringing together policymakers, mental health experts, NGOs, and industry leaders across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The summit brought together delegates from South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and beyond to further strengthen efforts to support and protect community well-being on the platform.
“In the coming weeks, users of some countries in Africa will have access to local in-app helplines that provide expert support when reporting content related to suicide, self-harm, hate, and harassment,” TikTok said.
TikTok has also introduced a guided meditation experience tool called Sleep Hours. This is an in-app well-being resource that is automatically enabled at 22:00 for all users under the age of 18.
According to TikTok, anyone above this age can choose to turn it on. This feature, the first of its kind in the industry, was piloted in March 2025 and is available worldwide.
“People come to TikTok to learn, share their experiences, and connect with communities around the world. That’s why we’re proud to introduce tools that not only support digital well-being but also empower our community, especially young users, with a safe, supportive space to explore and navigate complex emotions,” said Valiant Richey, TikTok Global Head of Trust and Safety Outreach and Partnerships.
