Summary

There is an urgent need to address mental health conditions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and humanitarian settings. This symposium sheds light on the significance of localized mental health practices and interventions, exploring gaps and opportunities for future research. The first paper emphasizes the need for reliable, culturally valid measurement tools, as well as rigorous and replicable research designs. It stresses the integration of local knowledge, practices, and implementation science methods in global mental health policies and programs for optimal effectiveness. The second paper explores the potential of digital technologies, specifically eHealth literacy, in reaching marginalized populations, including forcibly displaced youth in Uganda. It underscores the necessity of contextualizing and tailoring mental health information delivered through digital tools to the specific needs of displaced populations. The third paper underscores the unique concerns and needs of children and adolescents in refugee settlements in Uganda who are experiencing conflict and displacement. It suggests that increasing educational activities, improving access to livelihood resources, and supporting caregivers' parenting methods can enhance young people’s mental health. The final paper delves into the process of engaging diverse stakeholders in co-learning to identify locally informed mental health practices. It advocates for the integration of traditional healing practices rooted in diverse cultural traditions. However, it also emphasizes the need to balance localized methods with a do-no-harm approach and evidence trusted in low-resource contexts. Collectively, these four papers emphasize the critical importance of incorporating locally informed approaches and culturally appropriate mental health policies and practices to support individuals and communities in diverse global settings. They advance our knowledge about the importance of harnessing local knowledge, practices, and digital innovations to address prevailing mental health challenges in LMICs and humanitarian settings.

Keywords (separate with commas)

global mental health, local knowledge, indigenization, eHealth, displaced populations, refugees, co-learning

Write here the title of the Symposium and the name of who coordinates it:

Social Development in Mental Health