Adolescents left behind by migrant workers: a call for community-based mental health interventions in Nepal.

Over the past two decades, the unique health needs associated with the second decade of life have been recognized, not least the mental health of adolescents. In parallel, the negative health impacts of parental migration on the children and adolescents who are "left behind" in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is beginning to be acknowledged. Nepal is a growing supplier of labour migrants - an estimated 3.5 million Nepali individuals are working abroad - resulting in families being separated and thousands of adolescents being left behind. This can increase psychological and emotional stress and feelings of loneliness and abandonment, and reduce self-esteem among left-behind adolescents, which in turn may have a negative impact on their psychosocial health. Globally, mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders are one of the top three causes of disability-adjusted life-years lost among adolescents. The devastating earthquake in Nepal in 2015 brought into sharp focus the lack of prioritization of mental health services and spurred development of the Community mental health care package Nepal, 2074 in 2017. This package, together with the upcoming revised National Mental Health Policy, emphasizes the need to (i) ensure the availability and accessibility of basic mental health and psychosocial support services for all; and (ii) facilitate integration of mental health services into the primary health-care system. Recognizing that mental health and psychosocial support services have been predominantly focused on the adult population only, the package includes a component on childhood and adolescent mental and behavioural disorders. It will be essential for policy-makers to ensure that strategies are in place to ensure that left-behind adolescents, especially those who are not in school, have access to these community-based services. Given the paucity of research on mental health interventions among adolescents in LMICs in general, monitoring and assessment of what works for this special group of young people in Nepal may have broader implications for implementation in other countries where migration has resulted in significant populations of left-behind adolescents

An assessment of mental health policy in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Approximately half of the countries in the African Region had a mental health policy by 2005, but little is known about quality of mental health policies in Africa and globally. This paper reports the results of an assessment of the mental health policies of Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The WHO Mental Health Policy Checklist was used to evaluate the most current mental health policy in each country. Assessments were completed and reviewed by a specially constituted national committee as well as an independent WHO team. Results of each country evaluation were discussed until consensus was reached.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All four policies received a high level mandate. Each policy addressed community-based services, the integration of mental health into general health care, promotion of mental health and rehabilitation. Prevention was addressed in the South African and Ugandan policies only. Use of evidence for policy development varied considerably. Consultations were mainly held with the mental health sector. Only the Zambian policy presented a clear vision, while three of four countries spelt out values and principles, the need to establish a coordinating body for mental health, and to protect the human rights of people with mental health problems. None included all the basic elements of a policy, nor specified sources and levels of funding for implementation. Deinstitutionalisation and the provision of essential psychotropic medicines were insufficiently addressed. Advocacy, empowerment of users and families and intersectoral collaboration were inadequately addressed. Only Uganda sufficiently outlined a mental health information system, research and evaluation, while only Ghana comprehensively addressed human resources and training requirements. No country had an accompanying strategic mental health plan to allow the development and implementation of concrete strategies and activities.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Six gaps which could impact on the policies' effect on countries' mental health systems were: lack of internal consistency of structure and content of policies, superficiality of key international concepts, lack of evidence on which to base policy directions, inadequate political support, poor integration of mental health policies within the overall national policy and legislative framework, and lack of financial specificity. Three strategies to address these concerns emerged, namely strengthening capacity of key stakeholders in public (mental) health and policy development, creation of a culture of inclusive and dynamic policy development, and coordinated action to optimize use of available resources.</p

Discussion of the updated WHO recommendations for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders

[no abstract available

How does living with HIV impact on women’s mental health? Voices from a global survey

From publisher: Introduction: Women living with HIV experience a disproportionate burden of mental health issues. To date, global guidelines contain insufficient guidance on mental health support, particularly regarding perinatal care. The aim of this article is to describe the extent and impact of mental health issues as experienced by women living with HIV on their sexual and reproductive health and human rights (SRH&HR). Methods: A global, mixed-methods, user-led and designed survey on SRH&HR of women living with HIV was conducted using snowball sampling, containing an optional section exploring mental health issues. Statistical quantitative data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation and multiple linear regression analysis for the mental health responses. Thematic analysis of open free-text responses was performed for qualitative data. Results: A total of 832 respondents from 94 countries participated in the online survey with 489 responses to the optional mental health section. Of the respondents, 82% reported depression symptoms and 78% rejection. One-fifth reported mental health issues before HIV diagnosis. Respondents reported experiencing a 3.5-fold higher number of mental health issues after diagnosis (8.71 vs 2.48, t[488]23.00, pB0.001). Nearly half (n224; 45.8%) had multiple socially disadvantaged identities (SDIs). The number of SDIs was positively correlated with experiencing mental health issues (pB0.05). Women described how mental health issues affected their ability to enjoy their right to sexual and reproductive health and to access services. These included depression, rejection and social exclusion, sleep problems, intersectional stigma, challenges with sexual and intimate relationships, substance use and sexual risk, reproductive health barriers and human rights (HR) violations. Respondents recommended that policymakers and clinicians provide psychological support and counselling, funding for peer support and interventions to challenge gender-based violence and to promote HR. Conclusions: Interventions addressing intersecting stigmas and any especial impacts of diagnosis during pregnancy are required to ensure women’s SRH&HR. Global policy guidelines regarding women living with HIV must incorporate mental health considerations.The consultation on which this research article is based was commissioned and funded by the WHO Department of Reproductive Health and Research