ArticlePloS one2022
'We do not talk about it': Engaging youth in Malawi to inform adaptation of a mental health literacy intervention.
Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of factors associated with adolescent substance use in Africa, 2000 to 2020.Addiction (Abingdon, England) · 2025Pooled it
- Addressing depression, stress, and hopelessness through an economic and relationship-strengthening intervention: Findings from a pilot randomized controlled trial among people with HIV in Malawi.Journal of affective disorders · 2026Trial
- Patient perspectives on group problem management plus for adults with major depressive disorder in rural Malawi.Global health action · 2025Trial
- Structured patient and public involvement programme development in low- and middle-income country health research: a scoping review of evidence gaps and a framework for future practice.Research involvement and engagement · 2026Review
- Equitable partnership: patient and public involvement and engagement and community engagement in mental health research in Pakistan.Research involvement and engagement · 2026Article
- Feasibility and Acceptability of a Mobile App and Wearable Device for Collecting Mental Health Survey and Passively Sensed Data Among Health Care Workers in Kenya: Mixed Methods Pilot Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2026Article
- A scoping review of barriers and facilitators to implementing tele-mental health solutions for rural, remote and underserved populations in low- and middle-income countries.PLOS digital health · 2026Article
- Implementation of a Mental Health Literacy e-Curriculum (MHLeC) in Malawi Universities: a feasibility cluster randomised trial protocol.Pilot and feasibility studies · 2026Article
- A qualitative study exploring the perceptions of young people, parents, and therapeutic counsellors on young people's engagement with therapeutic counselling in Malawi.Discover mental health · 2026Article
- Assessing the mental health literacy of young adults from rural and urban communities in Malawi.BJPsych open · 2026Article
- Mental health literacy among adolescents in Nigeria exposed to a school-based multidimensional intervention.Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry = Journal de l'Academie canadienne de psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent · 2025Article
- Addressing the psychological impact of climate-induced disasters on young people in Africa: Challenges and pathways forward.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2025Review
- Suicide prevention program on suicidal behaviors and mental wellbeing among school aged adolescents: a scoping review.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- "They organized women who advised me": Adolescents' perceptions of Social and cultural influences on mental health during the postnatal period in Malawi: Qualitative study.PLOS mental health · 2025Article
- Article
- Excessive internet use as a risk factor for suicide ideation among university students in Malawi: A cross-sectional study.Health science reports · 2024Article
- Development of a school-based programme for mental health promotion and prevention among adolescents in Nepal and South Africa.SSM. Mental health · 2024Article
- Friendship Bench Intervention to Address Depression and Improve HIV Care Engagement Among Adolescents Living with HIV in Malawi: Study Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2024Article
- An exploratory cross-cultural study of community-based health literacy interventions to promote the mental well-being of disadvantaged and disabled young Africans: a multi-method approach.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2024Article
- Unraveling substance abuse among Malawian street children: A qualitative exploration.PloS one · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThere is limited knowledge on how to tackle mental health problems among youth in Africa. Literature describing community engagement (CE) approaches in low/middle-income countries (LMICs) health research is sparse. CE with youth from LMICS can help steer and shape culturally relevant interventions for stigmatised topics like mental health, resulting in better healthcare experiences. We share our experience of engaging youth in Malawi through advocacy organisations to inform cultural adaptation of a mental health literacy intervention.
methodsYoung people were recruited using social media from universities and community youth organisations in Malawi to participate in focus group discussions to help culturally adapt content of an existing mental health literacy intervention. Nine online focus groups with 44 individuals were conducted. Discussions involved views and experiences of mental health, including impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Discussions were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using content analysis.
resultsTranscript analyses revealed a vicious cycle of poverty and mental health problems for youth in Malawi. Four key themes were identified, 1) poverty-related socioeconomic and health challenges, 2) no one talks about mental health, 3) lacking mental health support and 4) relationship issues. These themes fed into one another within this vicious cycle which perpetually and negatively impacted their lives. The coronavirus pandemic worsened socioeconomic issues, health challenges, mental health and substance use issues, and burden on Malawi's already weak mental health system.
conclusionFindings suggest increasing untreated mental health burden among Malawi's youth. It highlights great need to address mental health literacy using existing community structures like educational settings to minimise burden on a weak health system. Online focus groups are an effective way of acquiring views from various young people in Malawi on mental health. This CE approach has grown our stakeholder network, strengthening potential for future CE activities and broader research dissemination.
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