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Program ARISE2: African mental health Researchers Inspired and Equipped

The following grant was awarded by, is supported by, is administered by or is in partnership with the Fogarty International Center at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Funding Fogarty Program

Chronic, Noncommunicable Diseases and Disorders Research Training

Project Information in NIH RePORTER

Program ARISE2: African mental health Researchers Inspired and Equipped

Principal Institution

University of Cape Town

Principal Investigator(s) (PI)

Sorsdahl, Katherine; Kagee, Shaheen Ashraf

Project Contact Information

Email: katherine.sorsdahl@uct.ac.za

Year(s) Awarded

2021–2026

Country

South Africa

Collaborators

Stellenbosch University

Project Description

Mental disorders make an increasingly significant contribution to the burden of disease in African low- and middle-income countries, also increasing risk for a range of other health conditions and injuries, yet health systems are poorly resourced to address the problem. Although investment in mental health research capacity building in Africa has increased in recent years, disparities in these areas remain evident particularly in comparison to the substantial funding underpinning research and research training for infectious and other noncommunicable diseases(NCDs) in the region. Thus, there is a need for mental health research capacity building in Africa, led by African public mental health researchers, to drive local research priorities and retain precious human resources on the continent.

The objectives of the ARISE program are:

  1. To deliver and evaluate a distance postgraduate diploma in public mental health in Africa.
  2. To train masters and Ph.D. students to conduct public mental health research relevant to their setting, with a focus on the integration of mental healthcare into routine care (for NCDs and infectious diseases) and community responses to public health threats, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
  3. To strengthen distance learning, teaching and mentoring skills, and postgraduate student supervision teamwork and capacity within a regional African network of institutions.
  4. To implement and evaluate short courses in implementation and policy research for policymakers, NGOs, and academics from diverse disciplines.

Related World Regions / Countries

Related Global Health Research Topics