To date, 90% of the world's population has been excluded from research on Alzheimer's disease since most of the studies have been done on white populations with Western European ancestry. In response, we have forged a partnership with Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative​​, to address the huge need in Sub-Saharan Africa, in general, and in Kenya in particular.  We at BMI, plan to establish a Dementia Hub to promote Alzheimer's research, enhance culturally sensitive care, and broaden access to innovative treatments across the African continent. 

The partnership is a trailblazing collaboration to redefine Alzheimer's screening and diagnostics, biomarker development for early detection and the development of innovative preventive and treatment interventions. We feel that our data will contribute to a better global understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, because the roots of the global populations stem from the Rift Valley of East Africa.  Our focus will be on vulnerable and underserved populations, accelerating the development of novel treatments predicated on a precision medicine approach. 

On another front, our pursuit of establishing the Suicide Prevention Research and Interventions Hub of Excellence continues. In September, we had the honour of screening the film 'This Bank of the River' at the Aga Khan University Campus in Karachi. The film, produced by Nighat Akbar Shah, depicts the typical cultural and psychological variables contributing to mental ill health and suicidal tendencies. It illustrates a newfound willingness in Pakistan to break the silence and take action to prevent suicide. 

The film showcase was followed by a panel discussion with experts in the field, who emphasized the need to recognize that suicide is preventable. It is not a definite, immutable reality that we must accept. Every member of the community has a responsibility to contribute to suicide prevention and is not just the responsibility of the health sector. Schools, media organizations, governments, and the general public must all come together to ensure that individuals at risk are not discriminated against and receive the assistance and support they need and deserve.

With a similar objective, BMI is in the preliminary stages of producing a comparable film contextualized to East Africa, intending to generate culturally pertinent awareness for suicide prevention. Suicide is a global issue, and we strive to address it across all geographies served by the Aga Khan University and AKDN. 

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Moreover, we collaborated in the African launch of the Lancet-World Psychiatric Association Commission on Depression after the worldwide debut. This launch is significantly noteworthy since depression is the leading cause of illness all over the world and the largest risk factor for suicidal ideation and suicidal acts. The Lancet-WPA Commission on Depression was tasked to synthesize evidence from various contexts and generate action-oriented recommendations in conjunction with individuals who have lived experience with depression. Their objective is to promote concerted and united action to reduce the burden of depression and ensure that greater attention is paid to the millions of individuals who suffer from depression worldwide. You can watch the recording of the pre-launch here and the main launch here.​

Another milestone achievement for the BMI was the launch of our Mental Health Ambassadorship Micro-Certification Course​. This course aims to produce mental health ambassadors and is designed to be accessible to anyone and everyone, with no prerequisites or registration restrictions. This course was piloted concurrently in Kenya and Pakistan. The objective is to mobilize a group of advocates for mental health who will strive to eliminate stigma and identify and support those in need while promoting mental well-being for all.

In everything we do, we collaborate across borders and disciplines in pursuit of improved mental and neurological health. We envision bringing about change through implementation science and a real-world ecosystem, focusing on critical mental health conditions within communities in the global south. 

This past month, we came together to create a framework as we discussed how to collaborate in advancing science from the "neuron" to the "community." Together, we aspire to develop effective strategies to improve access to care, prevent mental ill health, and promote improved mental and brain health in the global south. This will be achieved through the implementation of innovative, culturally sensitive solutions, as well as the engagement of interdisciplinary teams and the community.

All in all, the year has indeed been one of taking on bold challenges.  We intend to continue our uncompromising approach in fostering good mental well-being for all. We take inspiration from Nelson Mandela who said, "It always seems impossible until it's done." The WHO estimates that at least 1 in 4 of us will be directly affected by mental illness in our lifetime.  Those affected and their loved ones, have suffered silently under the shadows of stigma and fear, for far too long.  We, at the BMI, intend to do our best to promote open conversations about mental ill health, and to foster research and innovation to change how we deal with mental illness.  We move forward to the next year with more faith and confidence that together we can accomplish more of the ‘impossible.’ Here is to a greater and healthier mental well-being for everyone, always!