Inquiry from a parent prompted reflection on our mandate at the Brain and Mind Institute (BMI), where we are concerned with promoting the overall brain health of citizens living within the geographies served by AKU. Their question was about what constitutes balanced nutrition for the mind and how to ensure children have a well-developed and balanced mind. This reflective question led to further contemplation of BMI's role in promoting brain health.
The emphasis on economic survival in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has largely overshadowed the importance of prioritizing brain health. Nevertheless, given Africa's projected population doubling by 2050, it is imperative to recognize the crucial role that individuals and communities on the continent can play in promoting brain health. With this in mind, BMI is dedicated to advancing this goal by cultivating an environment that encourages research, policy, and practice related to matters of brain health.
BMI's community engagement efforts include piloting a Mental Health Ambassadorship program to promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma. The program introduces facts about mental health and its underlying science to move people from sympathy to empathy. This micro-certification program empowers individuals to support help-seeking behaviour rather than propagating stigma against persons suffering in silence. Furthermore, BMI is collaborating with community-based organizations to run an ethnographic study that will provide insights into current needs in these spaces.
In 2023, BMI's inaugural conference on Healing the Brain: Bridging the Gap in LMICs will bring together policymakers, brain health experts, and persons with lived mental ill-health experiences. Roundtable forums will interrogate existing policies and identify changes required to inform research, policy, and practice for improved brain health for all. Neuroscience and mental health workshops and webinars will also be organized to promote capacity building for the general public and junior researchers in these spaces.
In conclusion, promoting brain health is crucial for individuals and communities, particularly in LMICs. With our commitment to promoting brain health, we are conscious of ensuring the well-developed and balanced minds of individuals and communities.
Dr Kendi Muchungi, Instructional Designer & Partnerships Manager, BMI
Inquiry from a parent prompted reflection on our mandate at the Brain and Mind Institute (BMI), where we are concerned with promoting the overall brain health of citizens living within the geographies served by AKU. Their question was about what constitutes balanced nutrition for the mind and how to ensure children have a well-developed and balanced mind. This reflective question led to further contemplation of BMI's role in promoting brain health.
The emphasis on economic survival in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has largely overshadowed the importance of prioritizing brain health. Nevertheless, given Africa's projected population doubling by 2050, it is imperative to recognize the crucial role that individuals and communities on the continent can play in promoting brain health. With this in mind, BMI is dedicated to advancing this goal by cultivating an environment that encourages research, policy, and practice related to matters of brain health.
BMI's community engagement efforts include piloting a Mental Health Ambassadorship program to promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma. The program introduces facts about mental health and its underlying science to move people from sympathy to empathy. This micro-certification program empowers individuals to support help-seeking behaviour rather than propagating stigma against persons suffering in silence. Furthermore, BMI is collaborating with community-based organizations to run an ethnographic study that will provide insights into current needs in these spaces.
In 2023, BMI's inaugural conference on Healing the Brain: Bridging the Gap in LMICs will bring together policymakers, brain health experts, and persons with lived mental ill-health experiences. Roundtable forums will interrogate existing policies and identify changes required to inform research, policy, and practice for improved brain health for all. Neuroscience and mental health workshops and webinars will also be organized to promote capacity building for the general public and junior researchers in these spaces.
In conclusion, promoting brain health is crucial for individuals and communities, particularly in LMICs. With our commitment to promoting brain health, we are conscious of ensuring the well-developed and balanced minds of individuals and communities.
Dr Kendi Muchungi, Instructional Designer & Partnerships Manager, BMI
