Exploring challenges and opportunities facing public mental health promotion in Lilongwe district, Malawi
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Date
2022-09-16
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Abstract
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The type of this study will be a cross-sectional study that will collect qualitative data at one
point in time. The researcher will explore challenges and opportunities facing public mental
health promotion.
The Problem
Mental health is fundamental to our collective and individual ability as humans to think,
interact with each other, earn a living and enjoy life. On this basis, the promotion, protection
and restoration of mental health can be regarded as a vital concern of individuals, communities
and societies throughout the world (WHO, 2018).
Common mental disorders are responsible for the largest proportion of the global burden of
disease; yet, there is sound evidence that these disorders, as well as severe mental disorders,
can be successfully managed and prevented using evidence-based interventions such as
community based mental health promotion. However, public mental health promotion is still
not properly implemented due to challenges, (Bolsinger et al., 2020; Møller et al., 2020;
Petersen et al., 2016; Wainberg et al., 2017; WHO, 2018).
In Malawi, mental health delivery is centralized in very few hospitals in urban areas namely
Zomba and Bwaila mental hospital in Lilongwe (Kutcher et al., 2019; Udedi, 2016). However,
the majority of Malawians stay in the rural areas where mental health services accessibility is
a huge challenge. Therefore, there is need to explore the challenges facing mental health
promotion and identifying opportunities in implementing the mental health promotion delivery
in the country.
Study objectives
Broad Objectives
The aim of the study is to explore the challenges and opportunities facing public mental health
promotion.
16-Sep-2022
Exploring challenges and opportunities facing public mental health promotion in Lilongwe district, Malawi,
Version 2, 5th September, 2022
v
Specific Objectives
a. Explore challenges faced in implementation of public mental health promotion.
b. Explore opportunities that would enable the implementation of public mental health
promotion.
c. Identify effective evidence-based practices in public mental health promotion.
Methodology
The study design will be cross-sectional study that will use a purposive sampling of ten mental
health service providers to be interviewed at a health facility. Semi-structured in-depths
interviews will be used in this study and the questionnaire will contain topic guides containing
major themes to inform the elements of the phenomenon under study that will be used in the
same way in every interview. The semi-structured interviews will be digitally recorded then
transcribed, coded and analyzed using NVivo software.
Expected results
This study will document the results of the challenges and opportunities faced in public mental
health promotion.
Dissemination of the findings
Study findings will be submitted to Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Malawi College of
Health Sciences, College of Medicine Research and Ethical Committee (COMREC). The
findings will also be presented in conferences and published reputable journals.