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Global Mental Health World Universities Network (WUN) Symposium at the University of Leeds, UK

WUN SYMPOSIUM

Gloria Chirwa is an Assistant Researcher from the School of Social and Health Sciences at Millennium University. With a background in Sociology, Psychology, and Cooperation and Development, she focuses on implementing evidence-based interventions to improve youth well-being in Malawi. On the 12th and 13th of June 2024, Gloria attended the New Research Directions in Global Mental Health World Universities Network (WUN) Symposium at the University of Leeds, UK.

The event brought together researchers from a wide range of national contexts and disciplinary backgrounds from across the Worldwide Universities Network and beyond to discuss how collaborative research could and should address the major mental health challenges in our societies today. The conference combined traditional conference practices with participatory workshops which run across multiple panel sessions with different mental health themes to develop new research.

Gloria’s presentation titled “Promoting Mental Health in Schools Using Digital Technology: The Mental Health Literacy e-Curriculum in Malawian Universities Project” was part of Panel B in the Digital Approaches session on 13th June. Gloria discussed the development and pilot of the Mental Health Literacy e-Curriculum (MHLeC), highlighting its potential to enhance mental health awareness and help-seeking behaviors among students through interactive digital tools. The presentation shared insights from the pilot study and outlined plans for a feasibility trial across four universities in Malawi, with potential for wider implementation across Africa. Her presentation contributed to discussions on innovative educational strategies aimed at addressing mental health challenges in educational settings.


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SPOTLIGHT ON RESEARCH

 

Mental Health Literacy in Malawi

Millennium University alongside Queens Mary University of London is currently working on a Mental Health Literacy project.

Depression in Malawi is common with prevalence rates of up to 21% in adolescents. However, understanding of mental health and mental illness in Malawi is very poor. Many people attribute causes of mental health disorders to alcohol and drug abuse or spirit possession, resulting in stigma, maltreatment and discrimination towards people with mental health issues. The country’s chronic lack of mental health services and healthcare professionals amplifies limited treatment access, knowledge and negative attitudes.

This proposed project involves delivering targeted workshops focused on increasing mental health literacy to adolescents, their educators and advocates in university and secondary school settings in southern Malawi. We will use a mental health literacy scale to assess the impact of the workshops on attendees’ mental health knowledge and attitudes.

We anticipate three main outcomes; enhanced understanding of mental health, decreased stigma and enhanced help seeking ability among workshop attendees. Expected key impacts include improved wellbeing and building mental health capacity among adolescents and the educational community.

Findings will be published in peer reviewed journals and used to inform research priorities. If results are positive, workshop content can be rolled out to similar cohorts in other parts of Malawi and tested in the wider sub-Saharan region.


OTHER: Gender Policy Review in HIs in collaboration with National Council of Higher Education 
(NCHE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender Children, Disability and Social Welfare 
(MoGCD&SW) and funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

MALAWI YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH NEWSLETTER

October 2022 Volume

This month’s newsletter focuses on a medical student’s dissertation, Shahzaib Asghar who was supervised by Dr Sandra Jumbe. His thesis focused on the risk factors and determinants of cannabis use among youth in Africa. We also provide some good news and research funding opportunities. Read More


September 2022 Volume

This month’s newsletter highlights the implementation of Drug Fight Malawi’s (DFM) outreach program. We cover the essence of the project and highlight the need for partners to facilitate program delivery to achieve DFM’s project goals. Read More