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Mental and Neurological Health and Wellbeing

The Mental and Neurological Health and Wellbeing (MNHW) theme at the MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt) focuses on advancing research into the brain and mind across the life course. The aim is to address the significant burden of mental, neurological, and substance-use (MNS) conditions in rural and low-resource settings, both in South Africa and across the African continent.

This working group will unify methodological approaches and leverage the interdisciplinary expertise of researchers from various projects within the theme. By doing so, it will build research capacity and foster innovation in MNHW research throughout Southern Africa.

Our Aims:

  1. Define the burden of brain and mind conditions affecting rural South and Southern Africa using innovative field, computing, and clinical assessment methods.

  2. Evaluate the social, economic, environmental, health, and health system determinants and the impact of these conditions.

  3. Assess the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of novel interventions aimed at reducing the burden of mental, neurological, and substance-use (MNS) conditions at the population level.

  4. Engage with key stakeholders and policymakers, including the Departments of Health, Education, and Social Development, to strengthen and revitalise the provision of services for MNS conditions within the primary healthcare system.

 

The MNHW theme consists of six scientific work streams that cover the full brain-mind spectrum, recognising the inherent overlap and relatedness between them. These work streams aim to provide scientific structure to the theme's goals:

  1. Cerebrovascular Insults
  2. Epilepsy and Movement Disorders
  3. Cognition & Neurodegenerative Disorders
  4. Severe Mental Illness
  5. Common Mental Disorders
  6. Resilience & Wellbeing

These work streams align with current and planned research projects at the MRC/Wits-Agincourt.

The theme is supported by six operational cores that ensure smooth functioning and help achieve scientific objectives. These cores include:

  1. Community & Health Systems Engagement
  2. Field Research Operations (including ethics, HR, procurement, budgeting)
  3. Population-based Surveys & Analytics
  4. Qualitative & Social Sciences
  5. Clinical & Neuropsychiatric Assessments
  6. Imaging & Biomarkers

Theme Leadership:

Students:

  • Esther Buckson (MMED in Neurosurgery)
    • Prevalence and cost of surgically amenable abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging in rural South Africans with active convulsive epilepsy
  • Tammy Oldwadge (MMED in Psychiatry)
    • Exploring the profile of suicide victims in rural South Africa
  • Ruvimbo Chiswo (MPH)
    • The gender gap in adolescent mental health in rural South Africa: a qualitative study of user and provider perspectives
  • Tamerah Nkuna (MRes)
    • Exploring the perceptions and lived experiences of adolescent mothers with post-partum depression in rural Mpumalanga
  • Moyahabo Rampya (PhD)
    • Implementing acute stroke care in South Africa: An evaluation using the Re-Aim framework
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