When it comes to mental and brain ill health, we in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) carry a disproportionately large burden of these disorders, compared to the global north. This is partly due to unique economic and sociocultural challenges we face, as well as biological variations we inherit.
When it comes to action on the ground, we still tend to use diagnostic tools and models of care developed in the global north, that are often not effective or appropriate, as they are agnostic of contextual differences. For instance, the global north systems are reliant on access to professionals (e.g. psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists,…etc.) and specialized facilities, that are a scarce commodity in the global south and not affordable by much of the population. Then there is the issue of lack of knowledge, leading to misunderstanding and high levels of stigma, and finally, we face the lack of governmental resources in part due to the lack of policies prioritizing brain health and to low budgetary priority given by the governments.
We talk about the problems, but where is the light? How can be build systems of care that are more accessible and inclusive? Rightfully, The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared “Mental health is a universal human right” as the theme for World Mental Health Day. This is very much in line with the ethos of the Brain and Mind Institute, at the Aga Khan University, where we strive to 1) improve/impart knowledge, 2) raise awareness, and 3) Drive research and actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health, as a universal human right.
In light of these intertwined challenges and opportunities, our forthcoming Brain Health Conference, themed 'Healing the Brain: Bridging the Gap in LMICs,' endeavors to illuminate these critical areas. The aim is to stimulate collaborative efforts to enhance brain health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.
Research wise, there are several exciting studies under way. However, we are proud to launch a new program supported by the Wellcome Leap grant entitled, “Brain-Resilience – Kenya”. This multimillion-dollar initiative aims to uncover biopsychosocial stressors and resilience factors to mitigate rapid brain aging and cognitive decline in vulnerable African adults. This program aims to reduce age-related and disease-related frailty, cognitive impairment, and dementia in Kenyan adults.
In terms of building capacity, our Global Mental Health Postdoctoral Fellowship, in partnership with Harvard Medical School, is now entering its second year. This program is poised to bolster capacity for global mental health implementation science in South and Central Asia, as well as East Africa. Fellows will spend the first year at Harvard Medical College in Boston and then return to AKU to implement research programs under BMI’s mentorship in Kenya and/or Pakistan. Through this program, we plan to build capacity to translate prevention, assessment, and innovative treatment interventions to specific settings and vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries.
Lastly, on the education front, while we continue to provide mental health Ambassadorship training, we are thrilled to introduce our Resilience Bootcamp, a transformative four-day immersive workshop designed to empower participants in bolstering their mental health resilience. This innovative program, which commenced in September, 2023, is a holistic approach that fosters not only individual resilience to deal with day-to-day pressures and challenges, but also creates supportive communities committed to mental health and well-being.
Our aim remains clear: to continue advancing research, education, innovation, and engagement in brain and mental health across the geographies we serve, ensuring a brighter and healthier future for all.
