Exploring barriers to utilization of mental health services in Malawi: A qualitative exploratory study

Mwale, Omero Gonekani; Mselle, Lilian Teddy

doi:10.1016/j.mhp.2017.01.004

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Young people felt that people with conditions like mental health continue to face stigma in society which made them fearful to disclose psychological distress to others [ 15 ]. As such, it appears mental health stigma towards individuals and their families remains rampant in Malawi [ 15 , 16 , 38 ] and the broader region [ 39 ] which negatively impacts help seeking and treatment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our study shows that awareness raising and education on mental health is vitally important for young people [ 1 ]. Targeting their parents and the wider society in Malawi is also key so that they are better able to support young people who are at risk of mental illness [ 15 , 38 , 39 ]. The young people we spoke to outlined inadequacies in information and support available concerning youth mental health.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This was compounded by a weak mental health system, lacking availability of health workers and negative attitudes towards mental health within the society [ 1 , 7 , 10 ]. While shortage of health workers, poor access to facilities and negative attitudes have been found to be major barriers to accessing mental health treatment in LMICs [ 7 , 28 , 38 ], and lack of mental health knowledge is an additional factor that hampers provision of support to individuals in need [ 1 , 38 ]. Certain cultural practices in Malawi where families tend to carry the caring burden also delay help seeking [ 40 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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‘We do not talk about it’: Engaging youth in Malawi to inform adaptation of a mental health literacy intervention

Jumbe

Nyali

Simbeye³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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Purpose There is limited knowledge on how to tackle mental health problems among youth in Africa. Literature describing community engagement (CE) approaches in low/middle-income countries (LMICs) health research is sparse. CE with youth from LMICS can help steer and shape culturally relevant interventions for stigmatised topics like mental health, resulting in better healthcare experiences. We share our experience of engaging youth in Malawi through advocacy organisations to inform cultural adaptation of a mental health literacy intervention. Methods Young people were recruited using social media from universities and community youth organisations in Malawi to participate in focus group discussions to help culturally adapt content of an existing mental health literacy intervention. Nine online focus groups with 44 individuals were conducted. Discussions involved views and experiences of mental health, including impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Discussions were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using content analysis. Results Transcript analyses revealed a vicious cycle of poverty and mental health problems for youth in Malawi. Four key themes were identified, 1) poverty-related socioeconomic and health challenges, 2) no one talks about mental health, 3) lacking mental health support and 4) relationship issues. These themes fed into one another within this vicious cycle which perpetually and negatively impacted their lives. The coronavirus pandemic worsened socioeconomic issues, health challenges, mental health and substance use issues, and burden on Malawi’s already weak mental health system. Conclusion Findings suggest increasing untreated mental health burden among Malawi’s youth. It highlights great need to address mental health literacy using existing community structures like educational settings to minimise burden on a weak health system. Online focus groups are an effective way of acquiring views from various young people in Malawi on mental health. This CE approach has grown our stakeholder network, strengthening potential for future CE activities and broader research dissemination.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

‘We do not talk about it’: Engaging youth in Malawi to inform adaptation of a mental health literacy intervention

Jumbe

Nyali

Simbeye³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Substance abuse contributes to various health issues, including mental health disorders [ 16 , 18 ], infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS [ 3 ], injuries, and other medical complications. This increases the burden on healthcare facilities and resources [ 19 ]. Accessibility to substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation services might be limited in some areas of Malawi due to resource constraints within the health system [ 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This increases the burden on healthcare facilities and resources [ 19 ]. Accessibility to substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation services might be limited in some areas of Malawi due to resource constraints within the health system [ 19 ]. This lack of access can exacerbate the health impacts of drug abuse, as individuals may not receive timely or adequate care.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling substance abuse among Malawian street children: A qualitative exploration

Banda,

Banda

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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This qualitative study adopts a phenomenological and symbolic interactionist approach to comprehensively explore substance abuse among street children in Lilongwe, Malawi. The research aims to uncover the complex sociocultural, economic, and environmental determinants influencing substance abuse within this marginalized cohort. Through in-depth semi-structured interviews, the study engages with street children to understand their subjective experiences, perceptions, and interpretations of substance abuse within their community context. Employing convenience, purposive, and snowball sampling strategies, the research collected data from street children, acknowledging their transient nature and societal challenges. Thematic analysis was conducted on interview transcripts to derive comprehensive insights. Results revealed five key thematic areas: familial absence and emotional void, societal normalization and peer pressure, economic hardships, coping mechanisms, environmental accessibility, and peer influence and belongingness. These themes highlighted the intricate interplay between personal experiences, socio-environmental factors, and peer dynamics, shaping the prevalence and persistence of substance abuse among street children. This study’s implications for practice underscore the need for tailored interventions and support mechanisms addressing substance abuse within this demographic. It emphasizes the urgency for context-specific strategies and policy formulations aimed at ameliorating the challenges faced by street children dealing with substance abuse in Malawi. Ultimately, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of substance abuse among marginalized street children, advocating for compassionate and contextually sensitive interventions within this overlooked drug abusers’ population subset.

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An evaluation of mental health capacity building among Community Rehabilitation Officers in Malawi: A mixed-methods case study

Jervase

Adams

Myaba

et al. 2022

SSM - Mental Health

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Exploring barriers to utilization of mental health services in Malawi: A qualitative exploratory study

Cited by 3 publications

References 11 publications

‘We do not talk about it’: Engaging youth in Malawi to inform adaptation of a mental health literacy intervention

‘We do not talk about it’: Engaging youth in Malawi to inform adaptation of a mental health literacy intervention

Unraveling substance abuse among Malawian street children: A qualitative exploration

An evaluation of mental health capacity building among Community Rehabilitation Officers in Malawi: A mixed-methods case study

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