Research: Mental Health

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https://africarxiv.ubuntunet.net/handle/1/1393
Research that investigated the impact of COVID-19 on individual and community mental health, including fear, stigma, xenophobia, and other forms of discrimination, and which seeks to understand evidence-based solutions to build greater community trust and prevent social conflicts.

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Browsing Research: Mental Health by Subject "Covid-19"

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    Assessing Effects of Covid-19 Responses on Mental Health in Malawi (Report)
    (University of Malawi, 2022-09-05) Ndasauka, Yamikani
    The Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) pandemic has overwhelmed health systems in all countries, especially those in the least developing countries, Malawi included. As such, this project sought to investigate the effects of Covid-19 responses on mental health in Malawi in terms of perception toward mental health in general, the mental health of adolescents and health workers and mental health services. The project had three main phases, research, awareness campaign and dissemination. The study found a massive influence of culture and religion on perceptions of people with mental health. Mental health is primarily understood from cultural and religious beliefs. Further, the study found that providing mental health services amidst the pandemic has strained the already pressed and neglected health sector. On the effects of Covid-19 on the mental health of frontline health workers, the study found a high prevalence of Covid-19 related depression (31.2%, n=109), anxiety (30.3%, n=109) and PTSD (24.8%, n=109) among healthcare workers. The study also found significantly more healthcare workers with depression (36% VS 16%, P=0.06), anxiety (38% vs 1%, P<0.01), and PTSD (30% vs 8%, P=0.03) in referral hospitals compared to district hospitals. In addition, the study found that overall, 22%, 21% and 23% of the adolescent respondents had Covid-19-related depression, anxiety and PTSD. The project implemented awareness campaigns in the four districts: Lilongwe, Mangochi, Karonga, and Zomba. These awareness campaigns aimed to increase awareness of Covid-19 and its effects on mental health. The awareness campaigns in Zomba and Lilongwe were in the form of Talk-Shows, where speakers were given 10 minutes of presentation which covered the following topics; Introduction to mental Health, Mental Disorders, risk factors of Mental disorders, ways of coping with mental health problems and service providers for mental health services. In Karonga, the project targeted secondary school-going adolescents and was conducted as a variety show which saw students showcase different activities like poems, dances, songs, and drama. In Mangochi, the campaign took place for two days. The first day consisted of mental health training for Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs). On the second day, the awareness campaign was conducted in the community, utilising theatre for development, where community leaders, men, women, and youths were engaged in raising mental health awareness through their play. In all the campaigns, participants were given different mental health IEC materials. The project is disseminating the project and study outcomes by publishing three policy briefs, media coverage, five academic publications, an edited book, and five conference presentations. Aside from increasing engagement with key stakeholders, including health practitioners, policymakers, lawmakers, academia, and government officials, on mental health issues and Covid-19, the project has reached more than 100,000 people through awareness campaigns, radio jingles, and IEC materials, to pay more attention to early signs of mental health problems, prevention and coping strategies and to deal away with the stigma associated with people suffering from mental health problems.
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    Psychological Toll of COVID-19 Communication Patterns in Malawi
    (Taylor & Francis, 2023-12) Mhagama, Peter
    Utilising focus group discussions and face-to-face interviews with selected media managers and reporters, this chapter discusses the psychological effects of COVID-19 information dissemination on emotional well-being in Malawi. Whenever there is a pandemic, people respond differently due to the varied information they receive on the causes, effects, spread, and associated preventive measures. How people respond to the information they receive about the disease could have psychological effects on their mental well-being, such as anxiety and emotional distress, which could further affect how they adhere to the preventive measures and how they might react after contracting the disease. Studies have shown that psychological factors could also affect how a pandemic is managed and how people cope with infection and the fear of death. This chapter argues that infodemics, misinformation, and disinformation about COVID-19 created panic, fear, and anxiety among the people in Malawi. The chapter concludes that these effects and the people’s reaction to infodemics, misinformation, and disinformation were typical, given the nature of the disease and its dramatic effect.
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    Umunthu, Covid-19 and mental health in Malawi
    (Elsevier, 2022) Kainja, Jimmy; Ndasauka, Yamikani; Mchenga, Martina; Kondowe, Fiskani; M'manga, Chilungamo; Maliwichi, Limbika; Nyamali, Simunye
    This paper investigates the centrality of Umunthu in mental health conception and treatment in Malawi. Umunthu is an African philosophical worldview which stresses that an individual is human as they relate to others, as in the saying I am because we are. Its communitarian approach contrasts with a predominantly western individualistic worldview; I think therefore I am. There are spelling variations of the word across Bantu languages, including bomoto (Congo), gimuntu (Angola); umunthu (Malawi); vumutu (Mozambique); vumuntu, vhutu (South Africa); humhunu/ubuthosi (Zimbabwe); bumuntu (Tanzania); and umuntu (Uganda). Literature shows that if embraced and advocated for, Umunthu plays a positive and influential role in mainstreaming and dealing with mental health issues in communitarian societies where the Umunthu ideals are part of the social fabric. However, in the case of Covid-19 and mental health in Malawi, the paper argues that Covid-19 preventive measures, particularly self-isolation when Covid-19 positive; maintaining social distance at all times; and reducing the number of people gathered at funerals, challenge Umunthu ideals, which have in the past been crucial in reducing stress, trauma and anxiety. This original paper bases its arguments on empirical data collected in a study conducted in Mangochi, Blantyre, Karonga and Lilongwe. Based on the study's findings, the paper highlights that although Covid-19 preventative measures have been globally embraced, it is also a limiting factor in the quest for mental health in societies with communitarian value systems.