Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi, Executive Director of the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), addresses the media during the Mental Health Data Prize – Africa (MHDP-A) Initiative Convening at Bamburi Hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, on June 2, 2026
Mombasa, Kenya | June 2, 2026: The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), in partnership with Wellcome, has showcased ten African-led prize innovations designed to strengthen mental health prevention, care, and recovery across diverse settings. The solutions included digital and community-based screening tools for early identification and referral; youth-focused mental health interventions co-designed with people with lived experience; data platforms that strengthen mental health evidence systems; and community-led approaches addressing stigma, recovery, and resilience.
The event marked the final convening of the Mental Health Data Prize – Africa (MHDP-A) initiative, which has supported African-led teams since 2023 in developing and strengthening data-driven solutions to address anxiety, depression, and psychosis. While mental health conditions are increasing rapidly across Africa, services remain limited due to workforce shortages, funding gaps, stigma, and inadequate data systems. MHDP-A aims to address these challenges and gaps by strengthening evidence generation, supporting data-driven innovation, and prioritizing lived experience in mental health responses.
Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi, Executive Director of APHRC, emphasized the need for inclusive and people-centered approaches to mental health. “Mental health is something we all have, shaped from the earliest years of life. When people feel safe, heard, and supported, they are better able to build resilience and thrive. Creating space for open conversation helps reduce stigma and ensures no one has to face challenges alone,” she said.
Speaking at the meeting, Ekin Bolukbasi from Wellcome Trust highlighted the importance of investing in Africa-led solutions. “Investing in African-led mental health innovation is essential if we are to close critical gaps in evidence and care. The MHDP-A initiative shows how data and collaboration can unlock scalable, locally grounded solutions that respond to real needs,” she said.
Dr. Bishar Issak, Director of Family Health at the Ministry of Health, reiterated that every mental health statistic represents a person. He noted, "Behind every mental health statistic is a person, behind every data point is a family, and behind every trend is a community looking to us for solutions. Data must not only inform research, but it must also drive action."
The convening provided a platform for dialogue on the future of mental health research, policy, financing, and innovation across the continent, with participants calling for sustained investment in African-led evidence generation and community-responsive mental health systems.
About APHRC
The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a premier research-to-policy institution, generating evidence, strengthening research and related capacity in the African research
and development ecosystem, and engaging policy to inform action on health and development. The Center is Africa-based and African-led, with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and a West Africa Regional Office (WARO) in Dakar, Senegal. APHRC seeks to drive change by developing strong African research leadership and promoting evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) across sub-Saharan
Africa.
About the Mental Health Data Prize Africa (MHDPA)
The Mental Health Data Prize Africa (MHDPA) Initiative, led by the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) in partnership with the Wellcome Trust, seeks to transform how mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis are understood, prevented, and managed across Africa. The initiative brings together researchers, data scientists, policymakers, innovators, and individuals with lived experience to harness existing data and advanced analytical approaches in developing scalable, context-specific solutions. By generating actionable insights, strengthening data capacity, and fostering evidence-informed decision-making, MHDPA aims to improve mental health outcomes and advance mental health research and practice across the
continent.
Media contacts:
Christine Ger
Communications Officer, APHRC
Email: cochola@aphrc.org | Tel: +254 720 063 506
Diana Munjuri
Senior Communications Officer, APHRC
Email: dmunjuri@aphrc.org | Tel: +254 725 379 637