Transforming mental health care in Kenya: The critical role of routine outcomes monitoring in specialized services

This short communication advocates for the strategic implementation of Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM) systems within Kenya's specialized mental health institutions, especially teaching and referral hospitals. The proposed shift aims to transform these institutions into learning health systems, dynamic structures that systematically capture and utilize data from everyday clinical practice to drive continuous improvement in care quality, accountability, and population mental health outcomes. Kenya's mental health system, while advancing in policy and infrastructure, still faces a critical gap in routine, data-driven practices that support outcome-based care. ROM offers a practical and scalable solution to bridge this divide. We emphasize that this transition requires more than technological adoption. It demands a systemic reorientation: establishing digital standards for outcome tracking, allocating protected time for data reflection, strengthening referral pathways, and aligning local practices with national health indicators. These changes can help institutions become national exemplars, where evidence from clinical encounters informs policy, enhances training, and fosters research capacity. ROM is framed not as a technical add-on but as a transformative tool capable of reshaping how care is delivered, evaluated, and improved over time. It can anchor Kenya's mental health care in real-time learning, ensuring that services adapt responsively to the needs of patients and communities. With political will, stakeholder collaboration, and thoughtful implementation, Kenya has the opportunity to lead among LMICs in establishing a mental health system that is evidence-informed, equitable, and sustainable.