Lucy Mukuria

True North is pioneering a holistic approach to veteran care, with a special focus on mental health. Through their innovative Cradle-based model, encompassing physical and mental well-being, they're reshaping reintegration for a brighter future and advocating for systemic change, even within the challenging landscape of the existing system.

Lucy Mukuria, is a retired major of the Kenyan Defense Forces and the pioneering military psychologist. Through her organization True North, she is working to ensure: mental health care for veterans and those in active service is enshrined into law and national policy; the necessary infrastructure is robust to meet veteran and active personnel needs; the treatments are accessible and effective; and stigma around mental health does not hinder military personnel from seeking the help that allows them to reintegrate effectively into society.

Cultural and institutional attitude in Kenya consider mental health as a marker of weakness. These stigmas have led to a nation-wide policy and infrastructure gap in the Kenyan mental health care system. These shortcomings were historically disregarded or unknown until Kenya’s military strategy pivoted away from peace-keeping missions to more active conflict zones in 2011. Through her internationally recognized holistic ‘Cradle Method’, Lucy is looking to not only revolutionize veteran care but to build new systems that support veteran wellness and incorporate family members and communities in treatment plans. Her approach builds upon basic clinical care for the individual (a method used in countries that have more developed veteran care systems) to also incorporate the community around them to ensure the support systems continue to support holistic health of veterans, their families, and communities beyond their time in clinical care.

Lucy's profound insight lies in her recognition of the necessity to dismantle structural barriers and systemic hurdles that have hindered veterans' well-being. This realization underscores the crucial role of policy changes, forming a cornerstone in her mission to establish a lasting and nurturing environment that prioritizes the holistic welfare of veterans. The efficacy of her work comes from ensuring that all stakeholders impacted by poor mental health support for veterans play an active role in this revolutionary endeavor. This collaborative approach ensures that the impact is not only immediate but also paves the way for sustained, positive, and long-lasting change. Her accomplishments include significant legislative reforms within Kenya, and she now spearheads efforts to drive reforms at both the African Union and the United Nations levels. This remarkable endeavor extends her influence globally, positioning her as a catalyst for change on an international scale.

In recent years, the Kenyan military has significantly transformed its operations in response to increased terrorist incidents. In 2011, the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) sent troops to Somalia's Juba Land against Al-Shabaab militants, altering their role from peacekeeping to aggressive action. This transition presented new challenges for soldiers, exposing them to traumatic situations with lasting psychological consequences. Studies by researchers including Marx, B. P. K. Brailey, and Susan Proctor have highlighted enduring mental health impacts on military personnel. Combat operations take a toll beyond visible injuries, exposing soldiers to extreme violence and emotional hardships.

In 2005, Kenya's initial peacekeeping in Somalia lacked proper soldier training and retraining. Psychologists were recognized as crucial only during Operation Linda Nchi in 2011. Clear UN Security Council policies for psychological support were absent, leaving contributing countries like Kenya accountable for minimizing long-term effects. Insufficient pre- and post-mission debriefings, along with inadequate psychological support, contribute to posttraumatic stress disorders in soldiers. Amidst the focus on war costs, the personal and communal suffering from trauma is overlooked. The psychological aftermath of combat can be more enduring than physical wounds, highlighting the need for comprehensive soldier well-being policies. No progress was made inside these institutions to provide such care until Lucy founded True North Society to organize veterans and build awareness to create external momentum for change within the military.

The lack of laws and institutional frameworks regarding the Kenyan military's mental health has significant implications for veterans' well-being. There is no law requiring the compiling of comprehensive data on veterans' mental health needs, which only lowers awareness and understanding of challenges veterans face. Without accurate data, evidence-based policies tailored to veterans' mental health needs are difficult to develop and pass. The lack of a dedicated legal framework denies clear pathways to essential mental health services and protections, which makes it impossible to hold the military accountable when it abandons veterans that were wounded in battle to be cared for by ill-equipped communities. Without enforceable laws and legal frameworks, any effort to reform the KDF’s overall approach to mental health inevitably hits a cultural wall of silence rooted in stigma and fear.

Kenya's military’s failure to invest and maintain a robust mental health framework has fostered a culture of silence around soldiers' mental well-being. This culture is reinforced by the belief that soldiers must embody unwavering strength and stoicism, resulting in a cycle of isolated suffering. Expressing emotional struggles carries the risk of professional repercussions, exacerbating the problem. Seeking help for mental illnesses becomes problematic, as the system prioritizes discipline over mental health care, often completely disregarding soldiers' experiences of PTSD symptoms. This punitive approach perpetuates silence, discouraging soldiers from sharing their concerns and solidifying the stigma of mental health as a sign of weakness. Christopher Katitu, a Kenya Defense Forces soldier, faced combat and personal challenges during his service. After experiencing a mental breakdown, seeking help led to his arrest and court-martial, highlighting the injustice and cruelty veterans face when they ask for life-saving mental health support. The KDF's claim of offering counseling services contradicts the reality of little to no records on mental illness or even a dedicated mental health care facility. Even when soldiers like Lucy, the KDF's first psychologist, engaged with hundreds of soldiers displaying PTSD symptoms, her efforts to diagnose and provide treatment plans were met with disciplinary measures instead of proper care. Higher-ranking military leadership have been reluctant and defiant when confronted by Lucy and other veterans to acknowledge the mental health risk of military service, which forces commanders to label struggling soldiers as weak and underserving of continues military service or their pensions.

In addition, Kenya grapples with significant challenges in allocating mental health resources. The majority of communities face severe scarcity of professionals like psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and medical social workers. This inadequacy affects soldiers returning from conflict zones, as the fragmented medical infrastructure is unable to meet their complex mental health needs. Iregi Mwenja, from the Psychiatric Disability Organization of Kenya, highlights that distance further limits access to care for some ex-soldiers.

Insufficient mental health support among soldiers leads to increased substance abuse as a coping mechanism, perpetuating a destructive cycle that worsens mental health and impairs their responsibilities. Additionally, the absence of proper resources for veterans reintegrating into civilian life raises the risk of violence within the military community, as untreated psychological distress fuels aggression and impulsivity. Tragically, this lack of accessible care contributes to higher suicide rates among military personnel, leaving them overwhelmed and isolated. When Kenyan soldiers return home, their unaddressed mental health issues affect their families and communities, leading to violence and perpetuating new cycles of violence. The absence of comprehensive mental health care and awareness across Kenya leaves the broader community ill-equipped to handle the growing number of mentally ill veterans and their far-reaching impacts.

Lucy employs a multi-pronged approach to address soldiers' mental health challenges. True North Society's success relies on her strategic focus on advocacy and policy, recognizing that policy changes are essential creating an opportunity for her Cradle Method treatment plan become the standard practice for both military and civilian psychologists. Lucy targets Kenya's legislative and cultural barriers to veterans' well-being, making policy change a vital step for a supportive environment.

Lucy began her professional journey within the military as a psychologist, advocating vigorously for the recognition of mental health's importance in soldiers' well-being. Observing comrades struggles with the psychological toll of conflict and the absence of a comprehensive mental health framework, she took personal action to effect change. Despite openly addressing deficiencies, offering soldier-based recommendations, and lodging formal complaints, her efforts met only resistance, including threats of discharge and use of the Secrets Act to silence her. Transitioning her approach, Lucy left the military and founded the True North Society to provide mental health support for veterans.

Unrestricted by the Secrets Act, Lucy created a platform through True North to navigate the military bureaucracy, aiming to prompt governmental endorsement of a robust mandate for improved leadership conduct and mental health programs. Her strategy entailed passing a clear legal framework, mandates for regular data collection mechanisms, and fostering a culture that destigmatizes mental health care and illness.

Lucy creatively raised awareness about veteran mental health challenges, sharing personal experiences and veterans; stories. She leveraged partnerships with media platforms like K24, Citizen TV, and the Daily Nation to spotlight the lack of comprehensive mental health laws. Lucy's reputation as a former military psychologist visibly advocating for systemic change garnered greater attention, inspiring others to question the Ministry of Defense's stance. Fellow veterans rallied around her, sharing their own stories, amplifying the call for accountability in military mental health services.
Lucy has established strong collaborative partnerships for advocating national-level change. Partnering closely with Trust Law for legal expertise and mental health specialists from the Ministry of Health (MOH), she developed amendments highlighting veterans' unique challenges. Trust Law ensured proposed changes were legally sound. Collaborating with Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC), Lucy sought to further safeguard veterans' rights to mental health care. Key alliances with members of Parliament, Defense Forces Medical Insurance Scheme (DEFMIS), and Kenya Department of Defense (DOD) enhanced her approach, aligning Lucy's advocacy with growing legislative and military momentum for reform. During her residency at the School of Arts and Medicine in the University of Alabama (UAB), she further honed her skills and knowledge, leveraging them to collaborate with the university. This collaboration empowers Lucy to conduct research and deliver evidence-based recommendations aimed at improving veterans' benefits, pensions, and overall well-being.

Her collaborative efforts and evidence-based approach led to several watershed progress and legislative changes. These include:
Veterans' Inclusion in Mental Health Action Plan: Veterans are now acknowledged as a Special Population in the 2021-2025 national Mental Health Action Plan, highlighting their unique challenges and need for tailored support.
Amendments to Mental Health (Amendment) Act, 2020: The Mental Health (Amendment) Act, 2020, offers comprehensive protection for active-duty soldiers facing mental health emergencies in public. Lucy, supported by Trust Law, drafted amendments ensuring access to mental health services, timely interventions, and protection against unfair firings due to mental health crises. Previously, veterans with dishonorable discharge lacked pension rights; the new act acknowledges mental health and grants access to pensions for veterans facing mental health challenges.
Representation in the Military Veterans Bill 2022: Lucy played a crucial role representing veterans' views to Kenya's Parliament during the Military Veterans Bill 2022 development. Her research and consultations identified discriminatory provisions, like loss of rights and freedoms. The bill addresses privacy issues, expands access to Defense Forces Medical Insurance Scheme (DEFMIS), and eliminates gender-based medical coverage disparities. Lucy remains engaged in parliamentary hearings, workshops, and public forums for more inclusive bill amendments. A case in point is when Lucy's child was not only denied medical coverage on the grounds that she was an unmarried woman but also disavowed. The legal action she took, which she never could during active service, resulted in the invitation of all never married but with children military veterans since 1996 to register their children for medical insurance coverage. In end, the domino effect resulted in the revision of the KDF Family Policy.

Transformation of Veterans' Petitions into Bills and Active Participation in Policy Revisions: Recognizing veterans' influence, Lucy established a sustainable advocacy strategy converting petitions into Parliament Bills. Capacity-building workshops and legal advisors ensure petitions meet legislative requirements. True North's seminars and training for 100 veterans enable engagement with supportive parliamentarians, aided by media campaigns and outreach. Converting petitions into bills amplifies veterans' concerns, driving impactful policy revisions. Lucy's efforts through True North led to successful public participation in revising the Kenya Defence Forces Pensions and Gratuity, fostering ongoing dialogue between veterans and policymakers for equitable support.

As the contours of policy began to shift, Lucy adeptly redirected her focus toward the clinical realm, leveraging the altered landscape to raise awareness among veterans regarding the organization's vital services. The transition from policy advocacy to targeted clinical work enabled True North Society to tangibly bridge the gap between services and those who needed them most. Simultaneously, Lucy recognized that fostering veterans' successful reintegration into society required more than just clinical care. In line with this vision, she embarked on initiatives to foster economic opportunities for veterans, creating linkages with vocational training institutes for effective reskilling.

After leaving the military, Lucy struggled to reintegrate into society. One day, hearing fireworks triggered traumatic memories from her time in Somalia, leaving feeling irredeemable. Like many veterans, Lucy suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). What might seem like a minor incident brought back trauma-inducing memories. “Nobody is immune to war related psychological suffering, not even the psychologist herself” she says. When Lucy decided to seek treatment, she experienced the shortcomings of Kenya’s mental health infrastructure first-hand. There weren’t enough mental health services to treat people in her community, let alone her fellow veterans. She also realized that the available treatments for mentally ill veterans were strictly pharmaceutical and completely ignored the psycho- socio-cultural factors around the veteran that are necessary for effective treatment and reintegration into civilian life. These services were also one time and lacked a system to follow-up on progress.

Drawing on her experience as a veteran and a psychologist, Lucy began designing a comprehensive, trauma-informed approach that holistically addresses veterans' physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. The Cradle Method of treatment is based on her healing journey. Within this program, Lucy has implemented a collaborative framework, where multidisciplinary teams unite to provide veterans with unparalleled care and support.

The Cradle Method treatment program acknowledges and embraces the vital role of families in the healing journey. True North organizes regular gatherings and events for families to participate in the treatment process, fostering shared learning, exchanging experiences, and nurturing support networks. This substantially contributes to veterans' transformative recovery. Veterans actively engage in trauma healing programs that are crucial to their holistic recovery. These initiatives provide a platform for veterans and communities to collectively address deep psychological wounds from war-related experiences. Through these programs, True North promotes healing, reconciliation, and emotional restoration within communities. The Cradle Method treatment program promotes holistic well-being through dynamic physical activities, including community hiking events, enhancing both physical fitness and mental well-being. True North prioritizes overall health by providing comfortable and supportive physical spaces that foster safety and well-being. In 2022, the Cradle Method was approved and awarded by the American Psychologists Association as the best model for treating veterans with PTSD and other mental illness so far.

The Cradle Method treatment program extends beyond residential care. Veterans transitioning from these programs receive ongoing care, including counseling, therapeutic interventions, and support groups. This commitment reflects True North’s dedication to providing crucial assistance beyond the initial treatment phase. This treatment program emphasizes accessibility and inclusivity. True North uses outreach initiatives and tracking efforts to reach diverse locations, ensuring veterans have access to essential support regardless of geographical barriers. Lucy uses her expertise as a psychologist and identity as a veteran to reach and relate to more veterans. Currently, 300 military veterans have completed the Cradle Method treatment program, with some embarking on new careers and supporting fellow veterans. True North is in the process of developing a therapeutic mobile app to provide veterans with modern, accessible resources, self-help techniques, and connections to mental health professionals.

The lack of job opportunities compounds veterans’ mental health challenges. The Kenya Defense Forces lacks upskilling and job training programs for soldiers transitioning out of the military. A 2016 study by the Chamber of Commerce Foundation found that 53% of veterans remain unemployed for over four months post-military. Obstacles cited include lack of resources, underemployment, and absence of a college degree. True North, led by Lucy, addresses this issue by partnering with industry leaders and vocational institutions to provide practical training in fields like IT, carpentry, hospitality, and entrepreneurship. These programs prioritize mentorship, networking, and valuable skills for sustainable employment. True North collaborates with esteemed institution such as The National Institute of Training Authority (NITA), Kenya Institute of Research and Development Industry (KIRDI), and Nairobi Institute of Business Studies (NIBS) to offer quality training and certifications aligned with industry standards, enhancing veterans’ competitiveness and career potential.

In addition to training, True North partners with private security firms, companies, and government agencies to secure suitable job placements for veterans based on their skills. True North doesn’t stop at placement; it provides job readiness workshops, resume-building help, and ongoing support to improve veterans’ employability and ease their reintegration into civilian work. Presently, 15 veterans have been successfully employed.

Lucy focuses on initiating a cultural shift through awareness campaigns for all military members, including officers, enlisted personnel, and families. True North shares crucial mental health information to challenge negative myths and beliefs. Lucy uses diverse communication channels such as digital media, print materials, workshops, seminars. On World Mental Health Day, she arranges meetings with military families to encourage open conversations and reduce stigmas. These attendees share what they’ve learned with their communities. Over 2000 family members have participated thus far. Lucy’s team also did the 22-push up challenge up Mount Longonot to raise awareness about psychological wounds from war. Inspired by #22KILL, which addresses veteran suicides in the United States, this challenge attracted attention and sparked conversations about the lack of information on Kenyan veterans. After completing the challenge, the hashtag #Lindawanaolindanchi trended, spreading awareness and breaking stigmas around soldiers' mental health.

One powerful platform Lucy employs is YouTube, where military veterans openly share their personal experiences related to mental health challenges. The story of Joseph Gitumbe, a dismissed military officer, went viral on YouTube and Facebook, inspiring ten other veterans to seek support from Lucy. With over 600 videos and a growing subscriber base, True North's YouTube channel provides a supportive community for veterans to connect and share stories, fostering belonging. It also allows the public to directly empathize with veterans' experiences, challenging traditional stoicism. Comments like "True North is a rainbow in my family’s cloud" show the impact. Viewers sharing mental health challenges in comments are also directed to the True North Hotline by the supportive follower community.

Another approach Lucy employs is educating soldiers about mental health through specialized training programs and workshops developed in collaboration with mental health experts. She has so far held two major workshops for soldiers and their superiors, with attendance increasing from 50 to 200 soldiers. Despite initial resistance, True North expects ongoing growth in participants and peer-to-peer empowerment. These initiatives teach soldiers to identify distress signs in themselves and peers and guide them to essential support services.

Lucy prioritizes creating a safe, empathetic environment for soldiers to discuss mental health. She models empathy within the military, forming support groups and organizing team-building activities. Biweekly hikes on Ngong Hills draw around 30 soldiers each time. She also provides safe and comfortable physical offices where at-risk veterans can receive care, food, and take hot showers, fostering open dialogue and vulnerability. This strategy counters military conditioning that discourages seeking help due to fear of judgment.

Lucy was born in Nairobi, Kenya, into a family with a history of bravery in shaping the nation's fight for independence. From an early age, she drew strength from her fearless great grand parents and grandparents who stood on the frontlines fighting for Kenya's independence. However, this courageous journey was not without its challenges, her grandfather and great grandfather got a combined jail sentence with hard labor of 12 years for being part of this fight for independence. It is during this time that they played a significant role in constructing Jomo Kenyatta Airport alongside Mau Mau (freedom fighters), displaying remarkable bravery.

As a curious young girl, Lucy observed how Kenya’s path to independence impacted on her family. Her great grandmother and grandmother shouldered the war's burden as soldiers' wives and mothers, enduring heartache with what Lucy saw as unwavering strength. However, behind their bravery, the echoes of injustice resonated in the form of unspoken and unseen scars. The dark era of colonial times had inflicted deep wounds, particularly through the heinous act of land grabbing—a cruel theft of their ancestral lands. These experiences left lasting effects, with some family members plagued by PTSD, even after gaining independence. Displacement and forced resettlement became bitter consequences of a struggle that had irrevocably altered the course of their lives. These early experiences and background inherited from her ancestors instilled in Lucy a life-long passion to normalize mental health care and psycho-educational services for those on the frontlines of conflict and their families.

After earning a master's in counseling psychology in 2004, Mukuria joined the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) as the first military psychologist. She established the initial Counseling Department to address soldier and family mental well-being. Lucy then pioneered the KDF Disaster Response Unit as the Population and Behavior Officer after training at the Home Front Command in Israel. She supervised uniformed and civil counselors and Psychologists carrying out internships. She aided the National Counter Terrorism Center Kenya in offering Psychological First Aid post-14 Riverside terrorist attack. Lucy’s task shifted, she carried out capacity building within the military and trained counselors from within the military, placing them in battalions for accessible support. Despite challenges like professional opposition, funding issues, and institutional resistance, she persevered. Most members, unaware of their rights, feared speaking up due to job security concerns. The oath of secrecy, required by the military, further hindered her advocacy. Mukuria realized change from within was impossible, despite creating the first military psychology department. More action was needed. Her attempts to address military neglect were ignored. Upon her resignation of commission Lucy, founded True North Kenya, aiming to improve veterans' lives. She advocated policy change, leading to the Military Veterans Bill (2021) and inclusion in Kenyan Mental Health Action Plan (2022–2025). Honors include Kenyan Constitutional Medal (2012), Acumen Leadership Fellowship (2014), Amani Institute Social Innovation Management Fellowship (2019), and top 40 under 40 Women in Kenya (2016). She received International Humanitarian Award from American Psychologist Association in 2022. Presently she is a board member of the International Council of Psychologists for human rights and Chairs the Decolonizing Psychology Interest Group.