Meeting on Global Mental Health Research

NIH/NIMH Bethesda, USA , July 30, 2010: The conference which was sponsored by the NIMH Office for Research on Disparities & Global Mental Health, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), was attended by physicians, psychiatrists, neuroscientists, psychologists, social workers, public health workers, epidemiologists anthropologists, sociologists and host of other mental health-oriented disciplines. The prominent term was the development of innovative scientific research skills and knowledge to address global mental health challenges. The meeting was an interactive forum, with the goal of forming collaboration and mentorship to generate research design that will adequately confront modern problems imposed by mental illnesses.

For MHI International, the meeting was a great opportunity to network with other NGOs and distinguished mental health professionals from different Universities, practices and orientations. It was also an opportunity of evaluation MHI’s operational models as they relate to research and field projects as well as to showcase some of our research projects.

MHI is grateful for such opportunity extended to it by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).  
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Areas of Major concern about Infectious disease

Refugee & IDP health: The greatest congregation of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) is in Africa and it is estimated that more than 2.3 million persons in Africa refugees or internally displaced. These persons have myriads of health problems including, but not limited to infectious diseases, malnutrition, and post-traumatic stress disorder caused by war or oppression or abuse. Due to the deplorable conditions of these people, they can be the fastest vehicle for infectious disease transmission.    

Trauma-related Immune deficiency: Today research on the relationship between trauma and immune deficiency that causes infectious diseases. In Africa where trauma-factors are very high and infectious diseases endemic, research findings have shown correlation between low immunity and trauma or stress.

Food-borne illness: Each year, food borne pathogens cause an estimated million illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. Shortage of thereof has resulted to child malnutrition and starvation which has been linked to susceptibility to disease and low productivity.

Waterborne illness: Water, the world’s most precious commodity, is a primary resource for drinking, recreation, health care, industry, and agriculture. Globally, over 900 million people lack access to  clean water. Cases of waterborne illness are growing each year and Africa gets the largest share of this disease.

Zoonotic diseases: Approximately 75% of recently emerging infectious diseases affecting humans are diseases of animal origin; approximately 60% of all human pathogens are zoonotic. Mosquitoes that are carriers of malaria disease and guinea worms are most dangerous vectors in Africa