Summary
The Pan-African Mental Health Research Network (PAMHRN) aims to contribute significantly to academic and practice discourse on positive mental health awareness and holistic treatment approaches recognizing the need to decolonize the narrative of mental health care, bring together different stakeholders to learn from each other and draw on cultural and indigenous knowledges and practices.
The progress of the network over the last 5 years is the result of successful QR GCRF grants which have enabled and supported our multidisciplinary network of mental health practitioners and researchers. We are committed to providing innovative solutions to address the gaps in mental health care for black African and Caribbean populations within partner regions and the UK.
PAMHRN is actively working to scale up its efforts through the dissemination of research findings via conferences, seminars, publications and expanding its research to other African and Caribbean countries. The network's long-term goal is to become a global leader in providing culturally appropriate mental health solutions specifically for black African communities, while promoting co-learning and reverse knowledge innovation to address mental health service challenges.
Collaborating Institutions
- Makerere University, Uganda
- Thomas Sankara University, Burkina Faso
- University of Ghana
- University of Jos, Nigeria
- University of Zimbabwe
- Limpopo University, South Africa
- Kisii University, Kenya
- Woliatta Sodo University, Ethiopia
- University of Guyana
- University of West Indies, Jamaica
- Nottingham Trent University, UK
- University of Leicester, UK
Methodological approaches
The network has used different research approaches to provide innovative solutions which address the gaps in mental health care for sub-Saharan African populations, including the diaspora in the UK. Activities include:
1. Priority setting workshop was conducted in Limpopo with multi-country partners. to highlight the need for a multidisciplinary network of mental health researchers and practitioners
2. Baseline research was conducted to understand how to improve access to mental health care by exploring the barriers and facilitators of collaboration between Biomedical and Traditional Mental Health Services
3. We used a bricolage approach to accommodate the contextual differences across the different countries.
4. Engagement with all mental health stakeholders to collect data using methods relevant to their context and culture. The key data collection methods the network utilises are interviews, workshops, focus groups, participant observation, surveys, and intercultural dialogues. The suitable research method for each project is predominantly decided on by each country.
Team Members
Project Leads
- Prof Tholene Sodi, Department of Psychology, PAMHRN Project Lead. Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Limpopo, South Africa
- Prof Linda Gibson, Professor of Global Public Health, NTU, UK
United Kingdom
Nottingham Trent University (NTU)
- Prof Linda Gibson, PAMHRN Project Lead, Institute of Health and Allied Professions (IHAP)
- Mr Michael Brown, Research Associate at IHAP and PhD candidate
- Dr Diana Frost, Senior Lecturer in Business Nottingham Trent University (Management department) Information Systems and Business Analytics
- Dr Jidong Dung, Senior Psychology Lecturer
- Dr Damilola Omodara, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Health and Allied Professions (IHAP)
- Ms Elma Banyen, PhD candidate
University of Leicester
- Dr Deborah Ikhile, Research Fellow in Primary Care and Public Health
Uganda
Makerere University
- Dr David Musoke, Senior Lecturer, Public Health
- Ms Grace Lubega, Research Associate
- Ms Sarah Nalinya, Research Associate
Kenya
University of Kisii
- Ms Pamela Wadende, Developmental Psychologist and Postgraduate Studies Coordinator at the School of Education and Human Resource Development
Ghana
University of Ghana
- Ms Elma Banyen, Doctoral student
South Africa
University of Limpopo
- Dr Wilson Mpsanyana Makgahlela, Senior Psychology Lecturer
- Prof Tholene Sodi, PAMHRN Project Lead. Department of Psychology
Burkina Faso
Thomas Sankara University
- Dr Nate Sawadogo, Deputy Coordinator at World Bank Centre of Excellence for Studies, Training and Research in Social Risks Management
Nigeria
University of Jos
- Dr Juliet Yop Pwajok, Senior Psychology Lecturer
- Dr Utek Grace, Clinical Psychologist
Zimbabwe
University of Zimbabwe
- Dr Walter Mangezi, Chair, Department of Health Professions Education & Lecturer Psychiatrist Dep of Psychiatry
Ethiopia
Woliatta Sodo University
- Akalework Mengesha, Lecturer at Sociology Department
Guyana
University of Guyana
- Dr Paulette Henry, Senior Lecturer
Jamaica
West Indies University
- Dr Tracie Rogers, Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Psychology, and Social Work
Related Publications
- Global Challenges Research Fund Project: Baseline research on collaboration between biomedical and traditional mental health service providers. Preliminary findings to be presented at mini partners online conference in May 2023.
- 2021 UN75+ 1 Virtual Conference “The Challenge of Change”:
- Contribution of Traditional Healers to the Burden of Mental Health Conditions in Five African Countries and England: A Situational Analysis (JMHTEP-12-2022-0098) – [Under Review].
- Jidong, D.E., Bailey, D., Sodi, T., Gibson, L., Sawadogo, N., Ikhile, D., Musoke, D., Madhombiro, M. and Mbah, M. (2021), "Nigerian cultural beliefs about mental health conditions and traditional healing: a qualitative study", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 16 No. 4, pp. 285-299.
- Sodi, T., Jidong, D.E. and Bailey, D. (2022), "Guest editorial: indigenous knowledge systems and mental health", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 17 No. 2, pp. 89-91.
- Sodi, T., Abas, M., Abdulaziz, M., Amos, A., Burgess, R.A., Hanlon, C., Kakunze, A., Kpobi, L., Lund, C., Mwangi, K.J. and Mutiso, V., 2024. A research agenda for mental health in sub-Saharan Africa. Nature Medicine, pp.1-2.
- Wadende, P., & Sodi, T. (2023). Mental health literacy: Perspectives from Northern Kenya Turkana adolescents. Global mental health (Cambridge, England), 10, e35. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2023.25