Amref International University (AMIU) Medical Centre continues to advance its commitment to community engagement and holistic wellbeing through strategic partnerships that promote health awareness beyond the university environment. In this spirit, the Medical Centre recently hosted a successful Mental Health Wellness Day for staff at Brookside Dairy Limited, creating an important platform for dialogue around mental wellbeing in the workplace.
The engagement, held at Brookside’s premises, brought together staff members for an interactive and informative session focused on strengthening mental health awareness and equipping employees with practical tools to navigate everyday challenges that affect personal and professional wellbeing.
The session was led by Dr. Hellen Opande, representing the Amref International University Medical Centre, alongside University Counsellor James Waceke, both of whom delivered insightful presentations addressing some of the most pressing mental health issues affecting modern workplaces.
Addressing Critical Mental Health Topics
During the session, participants explored several key themes that directly impact employee wellbeing and organizational health. These included:
- Addiction and substance use, examining how dependency can affect productivity, relationships, and personal wellbeing.
- Employment separation, providing guidance on managing transitions such as job loss, restructuring, or retirement.
- Maintaining healthy families for a healthier organization, highlighting the connection between stable home environments and workplace performance.
- Loss and grief, offering strategies to support individuals coping with bereavement and emotional transitions.
The discussions encouraged open participation from Brookside staff, creating a safe environment where employees could ask questions, share experiences, and gain practical coping strategies.
Student Engagement and Practical Learning
The event also provided a meaningful opportunity for students to participate in community health engagement. Members of the AMIU Red Cross Society and the Mental Health Club supported coordination and participant engagement throughout the day.
Their involvement reflected AMIU’s commitment to experiential learning, enabling students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings while contributing to meaningful health outreach initiatives.
Strengthening Corporate Partnerships Through Health Outreach
Mental health continues to gain recognition as a critical pillar of workplace productivity, employee retention, and overall organizational wellbeing. By bringing these conversations directly into corporate spaces, AMIU Medical Centre demonstrates the university’s broader role as a partner in advancing health promotion within communities and institutions.
The collaboration with Brookside Dairy Limited underscores the value of academia–industry partnerships in addressing emerging health challenges while supporting employee wellbeing through evidence-based education and professional counselling expertise.
A Strategic Opportunity for Visibility and Impact
Beyond the immediate impact of the wellness session, the engagement served as a valuable opportunity to strengthen the visibility of the Amref International University Medical Centre and showcase its capacity to deliver professional health services to corporate partners.
Through initiatives such as the Mental Health Wellness Day, the Medical Centre continues to position itself as a trusted provider of workplace wellness programs, counselling services, and preventative health education.
The successful engagement with Brookside Dairy Limited highlights how strategic outreach initiatives can create shared value for both institutions and communities. For Brookside, the session reinforced the importance of prioritizing employee mental wellbeing as a cornerstone of a healthy and productive workforce. For AMIU, it presented a powerful platform to demonstrate the expertise, professionalism, and community-centered approach of the University’s Medical Centre.
As AMIU continues to expand its partnerships with corporate and community stakeholders, such initiatives remain critical in strengthening relationships, building trust, and positioning the Medical Centre as a leading partner in workplace health and wellness. Ultimately, engagements like this not only enhance awareness of mental health but also reinforce AMIU’s mission of advancing health education, service, and impact across society.
