New Delhi, July 1 -- At Kenya 's largest mental health referral hospital, male patients encounter a different kind of therapy: a personal grooming session provided by two visiting barbers.

As their equipment is unpacked, excitement spreads. Patients eagerly take turns sitting in the barber's chair, looking forward to a haircut.

Healthcare workers say personal grooming is an important aspect of recovery, as one sign of mental illness can be a loss of interest in personal hygiene and self-care.

Kenya has limited data on the prevalence of mental illness. According to the government's 2015 Mental Health Policy, an estimated 25% of outpatients and 40% of inpatients in all health facilities experience mental health conditions.

Mental health...