The brain is a complex organ that controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, hunger and every process that regulates our body. Thus, brain health is critically important to us as individuals and to the health of societies and economies. In today's society, there still is an unsettling lack of awareness and empathy when it comes to brain and mental health issues. This persistent stigma keeps people from seeking help and making them and their loved ones suffer in silence. However, there is hope on the horizon as communities around the world begin to gain access to innovative community-based interventions and shifting perceptions, due to enhanced mental health literacy. While the ‘colonial’ models of care have left a lot to be desired in cultural and geographic realities of the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), progress is being made through unlearning of the European and American approaches, in favour of local community-based approaches, using the available resources and culturally appropriate detection and testing approaches. However, there is still an immense amount of work ahead. In collaboration with our partners, the Brain & Mind Institute stands unwavering in our commitment to addressing the gaps and bringing about meaningful change using research, innovation, education, engagement and partnerships.
The Brain Health Conference: Healing the Brain - Bridging the Gap in LMICs
The fields of Mental Health and Neuroscience are experiencing an explosive growth, with profound implications for individuals, communities, and society as a whole. However, low and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to face significant challenges in addressing brain health issues. Despite growing awareness of the importance of brain health, countries in the global south still grapple with limited access to care, inadequate research and development infrastructure, insufficient funding, cultural barriers, and a general lack of public awareness. Our Brain Health Conference on November 15 to 17 in Nairobi, Kenya, aims to bring together distinguished experts and stakeholders in neuroscience and mental health to discuss innovative solutions and strategies for promoting brain health in LMICs.
Education
To address the gaps in knowledge pertaining to brain ill health, the Brain and Mind Institute is working on various educational initiatives aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills of healthcare workers and the general public in Pakistan and Kenya. Building upon the highly popular and successful Mental Health Ambassadorship Course that is open to all (no background courses necessary). This introductory course is designed to explain to lay audience how to recognize mental illness (what mental illnesses ‘look like’), what are the potential underlying causes, how to respond with empathy and to guide them to seek proper care, and finally to reduce stigma. We will soon launch a course for healthcare workers at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH-N), aimed at improving their understanding of self-harm, enabling them to identify its prevalent manifestations. This course will then be offered to health care workers in more widely across Kenya and Pakistan.
On another front, we have initiated a mental health and resilience bootcamp workshop for the broader AKU community in Pakistan and Kenya. This comprehensive program will cover various topics to promote mental well-being and resilience. It will include training on stress management, transgenerational trauma, depression and mood disorders, substance abuse, pathways to care, and building mental resilience.
Research
The ultimate objective of the Brain and Mind Institute is to foster research and innovation to promote mental well-being and brain health. This will be done through discovery research (leading to novel treatments) and translation of research into mitigation of risks to mental and brain health. The data informing current treatment approaches comes in large part from Europe and North America. The relative lack of research data from Africa and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), creates a gap in knowledge such that LMICs adopt detection methods and treatment approaches that are often not well suited to our cultural, biological and environmental settings. The case-in-point is the rapid rise in dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease – which is projected to become the next pandemic. However, there is a dearth of information about the environmental and biological (e.g., genetic) factors contributing to Alzheimer’s disease in the global south. Supported by the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, we are conducting an ethnographic study in Kilifi County, one of Kenya's most impoverished regions. The specific focus of the study is on dementia, a chronic disease that poses a growing challenge for Kenya's population, especially as the elderly population is predicted to quadruple in the next three decades. BMI aims to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experience of dementia in Kenya and shed light on the attitudes and perceptions surrounding the condition. Studies will also focus on culturally appropriate methods of detection and eventually treatment, best suited for local populations. By conducting research and gaining insights into community perceptions and needs in Kilifi County, we hope to contribute to the development of effective interventions, policies, and support systems for people living with dementia and other mental health conditions in Kenya, Pakistan and other regions served by the Aga Khan University.
Engagement & Partnerships
On the partnerships front, in collaboration with Aga Khan Health Service - Pakistan and Taskeen Health Initiative, we are now offering mental health services in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. These services include phone-based counselling by trained psychologists in local languages such as Shina, Khowar, Balti, and Brushaski.
We are also working closely with Kenya's Ministry of Health's Mental Health Division to conduct a national baseline mental health survey. This survey aims to determine the prevalence of mental illnesses, identify risk factors, and assess the treatment gap in Kenya. This ground-breaking initiative will help inform mental health policies and interventions in the country.
Recognizing that a lack of knowledge and under-resourced healthcare systems contribute to stigma, we understand the urgent need to raise awareness and understanding of mental health issues among families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and the wider community. In steadfast collaboration with our partners, we remain dedicated to addressing these concerns through research and education. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in mental health awareness and advocacy.
