Capacity building in global mental health research.

Journal: Harvard review of psychiatry

Volume: 20

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 2012

Affiliated Institutions:  Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK. graham.thornicroft@kcl.ac.uk

Abstract summary 

Research-generated information about mental disorders is crucial in order to establish the health needs in a given setting, to propose culturally apt and cost-effective individual and collective interventions, to investigate their implementation, and to explore the obstacles that prevent recommended strategies from being implemented. Yet the capacity to undertake such research in low- and middle-income countries is extremely limited. This article describes two methods that have proved successful in strengthening, or that have the potential to strengthen, mental health research capacity in low-resource settings. We identify the central challenges to be faced, review current programs offering training and mentorship, and summarize the key lessons learned. A structured approach is proposed for the career development of research staff at every career stage, to be accompanied by performance monitoring and support. A case example from the Mental Health and Poverty Project in sub-Saharan Africa illustrates how this approach can be put into practice-in particular, by focusing upon training in core transferrable research skills.

Authors & Co-authors:  Thornicroft Graham G Cooper Sara S Bortel Tine Van TV Kakuma Ritsuko R Lund Crick C

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations :  Patel V, Thornicroft G. Packages of care for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in low- and middle-income countries: PLoS Medicine Series. PLoS Med. 2009;6 e1000160.
Authors :  5
Identifiers
Doi : 10.3109/10673229.2012.649117
SSN : 1465-7309
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Africa South of the Sahara
Other Terms
Study Design
Case Study,Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
United States