Kuhes in youth mental health research
Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes) has embarked on a research study on youth wellness.
Global Health Research Groups local principal investigator Dr Effie Chipeta said the research seeks to come up with interventions to avert problems rooting from poor mental health.
“We have children being raised by older siblings or grandparents who have no proper sources of income. This leads to a host of problems. We want to see how these problems impact on the youth’s sexual and reproductive health,” she said.
UK-based National Health and Care Research is financing the survey.
She said her institution is working with key ministries, including gender, traditional leaders, the youth, parents and teachers.
“Whatever tools we will co-create with the stakeholders will be replicated countrywide. It is important to understand adolescent well-being,” said Chipeta.
In a separate interview, Ministry of Youth and Sports director of youth Judith Msusa said the research was significant as it looks into issues that lead the youth into drug and alcohol abuse.
“It will bring out evidence on the factors that affect the youth. For example, problems in rural Mchinji are peculiar to the district,” she said.
On her part, Traditional Authority Pitala of Mchinji said the research will help inform opinions on how problems emanate from poor mental health.
“We are in trouble because even 10-year olds are attempting suicide,” she said.
The research is running for four years from 2022 to 2026 in Mchinji and Blantyre.
