Breaking Barriers: African Voices in Mental Health Innovation
February 2025
Thejini Naidoo
Attending the Africa Global Mental Health Institute’s (AGMHI’s) 7th Annual Conference (4th-6th November 2024) on “Closing the Gap: Innovations in Mental Health” was an enlightening and inspiring experience, further accentuated by the warmth and kindness of the Kenyan people.
The conference started off with an interactive poster session, providing one of many invaluable networking opportunities with leaders, educators, researchers, innovators and advocates. Engaging with individuals from various backgrounds fostered a rich exchange of ideas and collaboration opportunities. Amidst the many stimulating conversations, the one that struck me the most was that with Tina Masai who researched genderaffirming care services (GACS) in the context of the Kenyan public sector. She spoke passionately about stigma at multiple levels and limited accessibility of GACS, proposing a comprehensive competency framework with an emphasis on community involvement. In my opinion, the value of local context in developing mental health solutions was one of the most salient aspects of the conference.
The following two days began with mindful movement sessions which set the tone for thought-provoking presentations and stimulating discussions. It was motivating to hear about work being done under the four key domains of the AGMHI: training and education, advocacy and policy, research and clinical care delivery. Attendees were encouraged to participate in these working groups with the view to meaningfully contribute to the advancement of mental health care in Africa.
The presenters provided insight into the amazing work being done despite the myriad of challenges faced in the African context. Wanjiku Waibochi, from the NGO Green String Network, delivered a powerful presentation about the development and implementation of African community-led, culturally rooted solutions to “rekindle individual and communal healing, using social reconciliation as a strategy for building resilience and breaking cycles of violence”. Some of the key messages that her presentation highlighted for me was the importance of:
decoloniality from a societal to individual level;
collaborating with communities and traditional leaders to facilitate the development of “sustainable, locally-owned solutions”;
not indiscriminately pathologisng people; and
not solely utilising Western models of treatment.
Innovative solutions presented ranged from traditional approaches to scalable technologies, with the view to bridge the gap between mental health services and underserved populations.
Prof. Xanthe Hunt’s keynote address underscored the disparities in access to mental health care, exacerbated by factors such as stigma, lack of resources, and insufficient training for healthcare providers. She illustrated some of the digital mental health technologies for youth in the African context, outlining the promises, pitfalls and potential solutions.
It was inspiring to see a collective commitment to advancing mental health in Africa, which left me with a renewed sense of purpose and motivation to contribute to this vital field. The conference served as a powerful reminder of the importance of innovation, collaboration, and cultural sensitivity in mental health initiatives. It reinforced my belief that closing the gap in mental health care requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders, and I am excited to apply the insights gained to my own work in this area. The conference not only provided a platform for sharing knowledge but also ignited hope for a future where mental health is prioritised and accessible to all through community, collaboration and connection.
“Umoja ni nguvu.” (“Unity is strength.”) – Swahili proverb
Dr. Thejini Naidoo works as a psychiatrist in full-time state clinical practice at Dr. Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital (DPKISMH) and is an honorary clinical fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). In addition to her clinical work, she enjoys teaching, mentoring and research. Her interests include mental wellness in medical students and doctors (in which she is published); severe mental illness; and the use of virtual reality in the realm of mental health. She is currently enrolled for her PhD which explores mechanisms of psychosis with virtual reality in KZN. She is passionate about bridging the gap between research and patient care and advancing the field by engaging in interdisciplinary and global collaborations aimed at improving mental health outcomes in the South African context. Correspondence: thejini.naidoo@gmail.com
