Strategic Internal Corporate Communication and Mental Health Promotion in Higher Education: Evidence from Daystar University, Kenya

ABSTRACT : Strategic internal corporate communication has increasingly been recognized as a vital organizational mechanism for promoting employee mental health, particularly within higher education institutions where work-related pressures are prevalent. Anchored on the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping and conducted at Daystar University, Kenya., the study assessed how internal communication strategies enhance mental health awareness, encourage help-seeking behavior, and normalize conversations around mental health within the workplace. A descriptive quantitative research design was adopted, targeting all the employees from which a sample of 135 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires administered both electronically and in person. The findings indicate that strategic internal corporate communication plays a significant role in mental health promotion at the university. Specifically, 57 percent of respondents reported that internal corporate communication effectively raised awareness of available mental health resources, while 58 percent indicated that communication channels were regularly used to disseminate information on mental health initiatives. The study concludes that strategic internal corporate communication is instrumental in promoting mental health within higher education institutions by enhancing awareness, reducing stigma, and facilitating access to psychosocial support services. The study recommends that higher education institutions develop structured internal corporate communication frameworks that prioritize mental health messaging, clearly outline available support services, and embed mental health promotion within routine organizational communication practices.

KEYWORDS : Employee awareness, Higher education, Leadership communication, Mental health promotion, Kenya, Strategic internal corporate communication