Global Burden of Disease
Mental disorders, driven by depression and anxiety, are a leading cause of global disability. In low- and middle-income countries, 75% of adults with mental disorders have no service access. The burden is acute in sub-Saharan Africa where disability caused by mental disorders is expected to increase 130 percent by 2050.
Mental and Substance Use Disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa
SMART-DAPPER study
Goal: Identify evidence-based strategies for first-line and second-line treatment for people with major depressive disorder (MDD) and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
SMART-DAPPER Intervention
1. Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), a 12-week, diagnosis‐focused psychotherapy to help patients cope with interpersonal crises such as grief, interpersonal conflict or a role transition through building healthy social support and improving communication. 2. Fluoxetine, a well-studied antidepressant medication called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

A Global Partnership to Enhance Mental (GEM) Health Care in Low-Income Countries

Our team has worked to address mental health care needs for populations in Sub-Saharan Africa since 1997, both in humanitarian aid settings and through clinical and implementation-science research. Since 2009, our team has conducted mental health research in Kisumu, Kenya, focusing on treatment and implementation research for HIV- and human rights-affected populations.

Patient Voices

IPT Participant, Kisumu, Kenya 

Fluoxetine Participant, Kisumu, Kenya