Reprioritising global mental health: psychoses in sub-Saharan Africa
Abstract Arthur Kleinman’s 2009 Lancet commentary described global mental health as a “moral failure of humanity”, asserting that priorities should be based not on the epidemiological and utilitarian economic arguments that tend to favour common mental health conditions like mild to moderate depress...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-03-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-023-00574-x |
| _version_ | 1797836611919020032 |
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| author | O. O Omigbodun G. K Ryan B Fasoranti D Chibanda R Esliker A Sefasi R Kakuma T Shakespeare J Eaton |
| author_facet | O. O Omigbodun G. K Ryan B Fasoranti D Chibanda R Esliker A Sefasi R Kakuma T Shakespeare J Eaton |
| author_sort | O. O Omigbodun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Arthur Kleinman’s 2009 Lancet commentary described global mental health as a “moral failure of humanity”, asserting that priorities should be based not on the epidemiological and utilitarian economic arguments that tend to favour common mental health conditions like mild to moderate depression and anxiety, but rather on the human rights of those in the most vulnerable situations and the suffering that they experience. Yet more than a decade later, people with severe mental health conditions like psychoses are still being left behind. Here, we add to Kleinman’s appeal a critical review of the literature on psychoses in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting contradictions between local evidence and global narratives surrounding the burden of disease, the outcomes of schizophrenia, and the economic costs of mental health conditions. We identify numerous instances where the lack of regionally representative data and other methodological shortcomings undermine the conclusions of international research carried out to inform decision-making. Our findings point to the need not only for more research on psychoses in sub-Saharan Africa, but also for more representation and leadership in the conduct of research and in international priority-setting more broadly—especially by people with lived experience from diverse backgrounds. This paper aims to encourage debate about how this chronically under-resourced field, as part of wider conversations in global mental health, can be reprioritised. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:11:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-589ea879b5e749ecba2f3d5b6c0f0cc5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-4458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:11:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-589ea879b5e749ecba2f3d5b6c0f0cc52023-04-30T11:07:44ZengBMCInternational Journal of Mental Health Systems1752-44582023-03-0117111410.1186/s13033-023-00574-xReprioritising global mental health: psychoses in sub-Saharan AfricaO. O Omigbodun0G. K Ryan1B Fasoranti2D Chibanda3R Esliker4A Sefasi5R Kakuma6T Shakespeare7J Eaton8Department of Psychiatry and Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, College of Medicine, University of IbadanDepartment of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Centre for Global Mental HealthDepartment of Psychiatry and Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, College of Medicine, University of IbadanDepartment of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Centre for Global Mental HealthMental Health Department, University of MakeniDepartment of Mental Health, Kamuzu University of Health SciencesDepartment of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Centre for Global Mental HealthDepartment of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, International Centre for Evidence in DisabilityDepartment of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Centre for Global Mental HealthAbstract Arthur Kleinman’s 2009 Lancet commentary described global mental health as a “moral failure of humanity”, asserting that priorities should be based not on the epidemiological and utilitarian economic arguments that tend to favour common mental health conditions like mild to moderate depression and anxiety, but rather on the human rights of those in the most vulnerable situations and the suffering that they experience. Yet more than a decade later, people with severe mental health conditions like psychoses are still being left behind. Here, we add to Kleinman’s appeal a critical review of the literature on psychoses in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting contradictions between local evidence and global narratives surrounding the burden of disease, the outcomes of schizophrenia, and the economic costs of mental health conditions. We identify numerous instances where the lack of regionally representative data and other methodological shortcomings undermine the conclusions of international research carried out to inform decision-making. Our findings point to the need not only for more research on psychoses in sub-Saharan Africa, but also for more representation and leadership in the conduct of research and in international priority-setting more broadly—especially by people with lived experience from diverse backgrounds. This paper aims to encourage debate about how this chronically under-resourced field, as part of wider conversations in global mental health, can be reprioritised.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-023-00574-xSub-Saharan AfricaPsychosisGlobal Mental HealthHuman Rights |
| spellingShingle | O. O Omigbodun G. K Ryan B Fasoranti D Chibanda R Esliker A Sefasi R Kakuma T Shakespeare J Eaton Reprioritising global mental health: psychoses in sub-Saharan Africa International Journal of Mental Health Systems Sub-Saharan Africa Psychosis Global Mental Health Human Rights |
| title | Reprioritising global mental health: psychoses in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_full | Reprioritising global mental health: psychoses in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_fullStr | Reprioritising global mental health: psychoses in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reprioritising global mental health: psychoses in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_short | Reprioritising global mental health: psychoses in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_sort | reprioritising global mental health psychoses in sub saharan africa |
| topic | Sub-Saharan Africa Psychosis Global Mental Health Human Rights |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-023-00574-x |
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