Adolescent mental health in sub-Saharan Africa: crisis? What crisis? Solution? What solution?

Addressing adolescent mental health care across sub-Saharan Africa faces numerous challenges, including underfunded public health systems, a shortage of mental health professionals, barriers to access, and pervasive stigma. Untreated adolescents often experience worsening symptoms, academic and soci...

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Main Authors: Claire Hart, Shane A. Norris
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Global Health Action
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2437883
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author Claire Hart
Shane A. Norris
author_facet Claire Hart
Shane A. Norris
author_sort Claire Hart
collection DOAJ
description Addressing adolescent mental health care across sub-Saharan Africa faces numerous challenges, including underfunded public health systems, a shortage of mental health professionals, barriers to access, and pervasive stigma. Untreated adolescents often experience worsening symptoms, academic and social difficulties, physical health risks, and engage in risky behaviours. Early detection and appropriate treatment of common mental health conditions can support adolescents in developing robust social and emotional foundations and enhancing their mental well-being. Ensuring adolescents receive the mental health care required for healthy development depends on collaborative, evidence-based solutions that consider the contextual challenges of sub-Saharan Africa. Innovative community-based solutions to mental health services may significantly improve accessibility and support adolescents close to their homes and schools. For example, co-creation and peer-delivered interventions with professional supervision may enhance uptake and reduce stigma. This short article adds to the current debate arguing for working with communities and implementing community mental health services for common mental health conditions. Sensitivity to community-specific challenges and building referral networks are crucial for effective care. Investing in these strategies, alongside increasing mental health literacy, could lead to affordable and significant interventions to address adolescent mental health.
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spelling doaj-art-906c6b05e1254a42859ec30d47bf123f2025-02-05T12:46:14ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802024-12-0117110.1080/16549716.2024.24378832437883Adolescent mental health in sub-Saharan Africa: crisis? What crisis? Solution? What solution?Claire Hart0Shane A. Norris1University of the WitwatersrandUniversity of the WitwatersrandAddressing adolescent mental health care across sub-Saharan Africa faces numerous challenges, including underfunded public health systems, a shortage of mental health professionals, barriers to access, and pervasive stigma. Untreated adolescents often experience worsening symptoms, academic and social difficulties, physical health risks, and engage in risky behaviours. Early detection and appropriate treatment of common mental health conditions can support adolescents in developing robust social and emotional foundations and enhancing their mental well-being. Ensuring adolescents receive the mental health care required for healthy development depends on collaborative, evidence-based solutions that consider the contextual challenges of sub-Saharan Africa. Innovative community-based solutions to mental health services may significantly improve accessibility and support adolescents close to their homes and schools. For example, co-creation and peer-delivered interventions with professional supervision may enhance uptake and reduce stigma. This short article adds to the current debate arguing for working with communities and implementing community mental health services for common mental health conditions. Sensitivity to community-specific challenges and building referral networks are crucial for effective care. Investing in these strategies, alongside increasing mental health literacy, could lead to affordable and significant interventions to address adolescent mental health.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2437883adolescent mental healthsub-saharan africalow- and middle-income countries (lmics)stigmacommunity-based servicesaccess to care
spellingShingle Claire Hart
Shane A. Norris
Adolescent mental health in sub-Saharan Africa: crisis? What crisis? Solution? What solution?
Global Health Action
adolescent mental health
sub-saharan africa
low- and middle-income countries (lmics)
stigma
community-based services
access to care
title Adolescent mental health in sub-Saharan Africa: crisis? What crisis? Solution? What solution?
title_full Adolescent mental health in sub-Saharan Africa: crisis? What crisis? Solution? What solution?
title_fullStr Adolescent mental health in sub-Saharan Africa: crisis? What crisis? Solution? What solution?
title_full_unstemmed Adolescent mental health in sub-Saharan Africa: crisis? What crisis? Solution? What solution?
title_short Adolescent mental health in sub-Saharan Africa: crisis? What crisis? Solution? What solution?
title_sort adolescent mental health in sub saharan africa crisis what crisis solution what solution
topic adolescent mental health
sub-saharan africa
low- and middle-income countries (lmics)
stigma
community-based services
access to care
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2437883
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