scholarly journals Social Epidemiology and Global Mental Health: Expanding the Evidence from High-Income to Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Maselko
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Epidemiology ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
High Income ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

scholarly journals Stemming the tide: promoting mental health and preventing mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. A. Tol
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Mental Health Promotion ◽  
World Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

The first World Health Organization's global action plan for mental health recognizes the importance of mental health promotion and prevention of mental disorders, through the inclusion of one of four objectives focused on this crucial area of research and practice. This paper aims to provide an ‘aerial view’ of the field of mental health promotion and prevention of mental disorders with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. Starting with reasons why promotion and prevention need to take center stage in global mental health efforts, the paper provides a framework and four general principles to guide such efforts: a socio-ecological perspective (place); an inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary approach (collaboration), a developmental perspective (timing), and a participatory and empowerment approach (strengths), or PaCTS. Evidence-based examples of mental health promotion, universal, selective, and indicated prevention are described.

Trends in the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms among undergraduate students at a South African University, 2016–2019

2020 ◽  
pp. 008124632097775
Author(s):  
Kim-Louise Rousseau ◽  
Sabrina Thompson ◽  
Lea-Ann Pileggi ◽  
Michelle Henry ◽  
Kevin GF Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mood Disorders ◽  
South African ◽  
High Income ◽  
First Year ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

University students are particularly vulnerable to mood disorders. This vulnerability may be increasing, with recent investigations reporting sharp rises in the prevalence of depression and other psychiatric disorders. Moreover, previous studies indicate that first-year undergraduates tend to show more depression and suicidal ideation than students in subsequent years. However, most studies in the extant literature emerge from high-income countries in the global north; relatively few focus on university students in low- and middle-income countries such as South Africa. Because students in low- and middle-income countries are more likely to be exposed to crime and trauma, and less likely to have easily accessible mental health services, they might be at even higher risk for developing mood disorders than their counterparts in high-income countries. Furthermore, most previous studies of mental health in university students analyse cross-sectional data and therefore cannot comment on longitudinal patterns in the data. To fill these knowledge gaps, the current study aimed to describe recent trends in depression and suicidal ideation among South African university students. We analysed both archival ( n = 2593) and original ( n = 499) Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition reports, sampled between 2016 and 2019. As expected, depression and suicidal ideation scores increased significantly over time, and first-year students reported significantly more depression and suicidal ideation than students in subsequent years of study. These findings suggest that preventive interventions during sensitive periods of undergraduate study are imperative and provide a foundation for treatment strategies tailored to the needs of the most vulnerable South African students.

scholarly journals Disability and treatment of specific mental and physical disorders across the world

2008 ◽  
Vol 192 (5) ◽  
pp. 368-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Ormel ◽  
Maria Petukhova ◽  
Somnath Chatterji ◽  
Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola ◽  
Jordi Alonso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
High Income ◽  
World Health ◽  
Role Functioning ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Physical Disorders ◽  
Low And Middle Income

BackgroundAdvocates of expanded mental health treatment assert that mental disorders are as disabling as physical disorders, but little evidence supports this assertion.AimsTo establish the disability and treatment of specific mental and physical disorders in high-income and low- and middle-income countries.MethodCommunity epidemiological surveys were administered in 15 countries through the World Health Organization World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative.ResultsRespondents in both high-income and low- and middle-income countries attributed higher disability to mental disorders than to the commonly occurring physical disorders included in the surveys. This pattern held for all disorders and also for treated disorders. Disaggregation showed that the higher disability of mental than physical disorders was limited to disability in social and personal role functioning, whereas disability in productive role functioning was generally comparable for mental and physical disorders.ConclusionsDespite often higher disability, mental disorders are under-treated compared with physical disorders in both high-income and in low- and middle-income countries.

scholarly journals Mental Health in low-and middle income countries (LMICs): Going beyond the need for funding

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Folashade T Alloh ◽  
Pramod Regmi ◽  
Igoche Onche ◽  
Edwin Van Teijlingen ◽  
Steven Trenoweth
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Despite being globally recognised as an important public health issue, mental health is still less prioritised as a disease burden in many Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). More than 70% of the global mental health burden occurs in these countries. We discussed mental health issues in LMICs under themes such as abuse and mental illness, cultural influence on mental health, need for dignity in care, meeting financial and workforce gaps and the need for national health policy for the mental health sector. We highlighted that although mental health education and health care services in most LMICs are poorly resourced; there is an urgent need to address issues beyond funding that contribute to poor mental health. In order to meet the increasing challenge of mental health illness in LMICs, there is a need for effort to address cultural and professional challenges that contribute to poor mental health among individuals. We have a notion that mental health should be integrated into primary health care in LMICs. Creating awareness on the impact of some cultural attitudes/practices will encourage better uptake of mental health services and increase the ease when discussing mental health issues in these countries which can contribute to reducing the poor mental health in LMICs.

Focus on Global Mental Health: Mental Health Services in 42 Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A WHO-AIMS Cross-National Analysis

2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shekhar Saxena ◽  
Antonio Lora ◽  
Jodi Morris ◽  
Annamaria Berrino ◽  
Patricia Esparza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
Cross National ◽  
Low And Middle Income

scholarly journals A Cambodian-Norwegian Competence Building Program in Child Mental Health: A Qualitative Focus-Group Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marit Hafting ◽  
Puthy Pat ◽  
Gunn Aadland ◽  
Krister Fjermestad ◽  
Bhoomikumar Jegannathan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Child And Adolescent ◽  
High Income ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Building Program ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract BackgroundThe prevalence of mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders in young people is high in low- and middle-income counties, such as Cambodia, as risk factors in the perinatal period, malnutrition, infections and adverse childhood experiences can be abundant due to poverty and/or conflict. Collaboration between institutions from high-income countries and institutions in resource-poor settings for professional development can improve service providers’ knowledge and skills, which is key to bridging the gap between service needs and the ability to meet those needs.MethodsA Norwegian team comprised of a pediatrician, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and a child psychologist implemented a participatory program for competence building at Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Cambodia (Caritas-CCAMH) two weeks per year over a 14-year period. Herein, we explore some aspects of this Cambodian-Norwegian collaboration from the perspective of the Caritas-CCAMH staff with a qualitative approach using thematic analysis of the transcripts from a focus-group interview with 11 staff members at the end of the 14-year period. Results The multidisciplinary team at Caritas-CCAMH described the learning process with the Norwegian team as a “meeting between experts” characterized by collaboration in planning and implementation, which enhanced the contextual relevance of the project. Mixing theory and practice in clinical case discussions with a bio-psycho-social perspective was perceived as the cornerstone of the pedagogical process. Learning by observation and supervision from the Norwegian team led to mastering skills and enhancing self-confidence and job satisfaction. A pedagogical strategy that involved constant reflection back and forth enabled the customization of the content and method of knowledge exchange despite the difference in socio-economic conditions and learning styles that were unfamiliar to the mental health professionals from high-income countries.ConclusionsBuilding knowledge and skills within a dialogic partnership over a significant period of time contributed to learning across cultures. This model of continuity, low-investment and low-intensity collaborative capacity building may enrich the child and adolescent mental health settings in high-, low- and middle-income countries. Furthermore, the model appears feasible for Western professionals who collaborate with institutions for child and adolescent mental health in low- and middle-income countries.

scholarly journals The 10/90 divide in mental health research: Trends over a 10-year period

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shekhar Saxena ◽  
Guillermo Paraje ◽  
Pratap Sharan ◽  
Ghassan Karam ◽  
Ritu Sadana
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
High Income ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Health Literature ◽  
Mental Health Literature ◽  
Search Precision ◽  
Low And Middle Income

SummaryA search (precision value 94%, recall value 93%) of the ISI Web of Science database (1992–2001) revealed that mental health publications accounted for 3–4% of the health literature. A 10/90 divide in internationally accessible mental health literature was evident and remained undiminished through 10 years as low- and middle-income countries (n= 152) contributed only 6%, high-income countries (n=54) 94%, and 14 leading high-income countries (with more than 1% contribution for majority of years under consideration) contributed 90% of internationally accessible mental health research. Steps should be taken to improve the research infrastructure and capacity to conduct and disseminate mental health research in general, and on a priority basis in low- and middle-income countries.

scholarly journals Conducting global mental health research: lessons learned from Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akash R. Wasil ◽  
Tom L. Osborn ◽  
Katherine E. Venturo-Conerly ◽  
Christine Wasanga ◽  
John R. Weisz
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Health Work ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Mental Health Work ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Mental health disorders are prevalent among youth and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries, and access to evidence-based treatments is poor. Although there is a great need for high-quality research to serve young people in low- and middle-income countries, there is limited guidance available for researchers who wish to conduct such work. Here, we describe our process of conducting school-based youth mental health work in Kenya over the last several years. We focus on five key lessons we learned that could guide future global mental health work with youth: (a) reducing stigma with strengths-focused interventions, (b) expanding access by working in schools, (c) generating buy-in from local stakeholders, (d) adapting the intervention via multicultural collaboration, and (e) applying insights from low- and middle-income countries to serve young people in high-income countries. We conclude by discussing how these lessons, and those shared by other teams, can be applied to help reduce the treatment gap for young people around the world.

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