Mental illness and substance abuse in Uganda- the hidden pandemic

Mental and alcohol use disorders in Africa are seriously understudied and underfinanced but have a huge impact on the burden of disease, human suffering and progress towards goals of leaving no-one behind and Agenda 2030.

During COVID-related lockdowns, mental distress has increased in high-income settings but primary data from Africa and appropriate interventions are lacking. However mental health is closely interlinked with school closures, lost life opportunities, poverty, food insecurity.

This large population-based study in Uganda aims to analyse the occurrence of the most common mental disorders (depression, anxiety) and alcohol abuse, and interactions with poverty, age, gender, reproductive health (HIV), urbanicity, food insecurity and partner violence.

We will validate tools on stigma against mental illness and care seeking, and, assess the influence of the pandemic on access to care and prevention for mental and alcohol use disorders.

This 3-year project will use longitudinal data from a cohort of 11,000 individuals aged 13-80-years before, during and after the pandemic.

Based on our results we will suggest new policy guidelines for health care and community interventions to mitigate the impact of mental disorders and change prevailing discriminatory views of mental health in general.

We build on a strong collaboration between Karolinska and AMBSO research organisation in Uganda overall aiming to optimize capacity for operational research in low-income contexts.