1. Zomba Mental Health Link 2010
Taking Mental Health to School: Mental health promotion in girls secondary schools
University of Malawi
CHANCELLOR COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
Limbika Maliwichi-Senganimalunje,
MA Clinical Psychology.

2. Zomba Mental Health Link 2010
Background:
Most mental disorders begin during youth.
Little is known about the youth knowledge of and attitude to mental illness in Malawi.
Substantial investment has been made in mental-health promotion and interventions for young people in many countries.
Only 1.5 % of our national heath budget is spent on mental health.
There is need to improve the range of affordable and feasible early interventions.
Young African Women Leaders Forum, Department of state ( USA) & Chancellor College -Department of Psychology 2011

3. Zomba Mental Health Link 2010
Purpose of the study :
1. To assess and improve girls’ knowledge, awareness and attitudes on mental health and mental health problems.
2. To increase the capacity of girls to identify:
their mental health needs,
causes of common mental health problems,
effective coping and
healthy help seeking behaviours.
Young African Women Leaders Forum, Department of state ( USA) & Chancellor College -Department of Psychology 2011

4. Zomba Mental Health Link 2010
Methods:
Both qualitative and quantitative
976 girls from girls’ sec. schools(response rate 86.7%).
Likuni in Lilonge: 350 students
St Mary’s in Zomba: 350 students
Providence in Mulanje: 276 students
Age range: 11 years to 18 years across all forms.
Completed a 10 item self-administered KAP questionnaire on mh & mh problems before and after a pp presentation.
FGD with student leaders (n=40) was conducted.
Interviews with the head teachers
The data for each item and overall performance for each student was entered and analysed using SPSS.
Young African Women Leaders Forum, Department of state ( USA) & Chancellor College -Department of Psychology 2011

5. Data Analysis: Questionnaire
Zomba Mental Health Link 2010
Data Analysis: Questionnaire ID
Pre-intervetion
Post-intervetion
Differrence
Item 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
pass % 13 60 70 28 50 80 30 31 20 33 40 90 34
Young African Women Leaders Forum, Department of state ( USA) & Chancellor College -Department of Psychology 2011

6. Zomba Mental Health Link 2010
Results:
Overall performance before and after the presentation increased by 20%
Individual item performance varied with the highest increase of 50.9% and the least increase of 2%.
poor knowledge of common mental health problems was common with 86% of the girls unable to identify any single mental health problem.
Young African Women Leaders Forum, Department of state ( USA) & Chancellor College -Department of Psychology 2011

7. Zomba Mental Health Link 2010
Results continued:
Negative views of mental illness were widespread,
73.7 % believed that people with mental health problems are extremely dangerous.
However, after the presentation only 22.8% of the students maintained this negative attitude.
Young African Women Leaders Forum, Department of state ( USA) & Chancellor College -Department of Psychology 2011

8. Zomba Mental Health Link 2010
Results continued:
A pair wise ranking of the challenges that may contribute to mental health problems identified
relationship problems as a major challenge followed by
educational challenges.
A pair wise ranking of common coping strategies
chatting with friends followed by
crying and praying.
There were mixed results on the specific steps the students take to get help.
Young African Women Leaders Forum, Department of state ( USA) & Chancellor College -Department of Psychology 2011

9. Zomba Mental Health Link 2010
Limitations
No easy access to the schools: strict
Presence of teachers & head teachers during the presentation which limited students participation.
Financial=limited teachers’ participation
Sample size not representative of all sec schools in Mw
Zomba Mental Health Link 2010

10. Zomba Mental Health Link 2010
Conclusion:
An educational intervention can help increase students knowledge on mental health and change their negative attitudes.
There is a need for more research investment to develop, implement, and assess preventive and promotive youth mental-health interventions.
Young African Women Leaders Forum, Department of state ( USA) & Chancellor College -Department of Psychology 2011

11. Zomba Mental Health Link 2010
Acknowledgements
CHILUNGAMO M’MANGA MY 4TH YEAR STUDENT
who helped me with data collection
University of Malawi
CHANCELLOR COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

12. THANK YOU ZIKOMO TAWONGA YEO
Zomba Mental Health Link 2010
THANK YOU ZIKOMO TAWONGA YEO
Young African Women Leaders Forum, Department of state ( USA) & Chancellor College -Department of Psychology 2011

13. Knowledge Questionnaire
Zomba Mental Health Link 2010
Knowledge Questionnaire
1. Mental health problems are common health problems.
True b. False
2. You can know by looking at someone whether they have a mental illness
True b. False
3. Mental illness is:
a single, rare disorder b. a broad classification for many disorders
4. People with mental illness are more violent and dangerous than the general population.
5. Mental illness is caused by a personal weakness.
True b. False
6. Mention any two mental health problems you know.
7. Mental illnesses are due to the expected stress of everyday life.
8. Who is most likely to get a mental illness?
poor, uneducated people c. people with stressful jobs
Mental illness can affect anyone, regardless of intelligence, social class or income level.
9. Mention two factors that may contribute to a person developing a mental health problem.
10. Students experiencing mental health problems should be advised against involving themselves in exercises, clubs and societies because these may cause extra stress.
Young African Women Leaders Forum, Department of state ( USA) & Chancellor College -Department of Psychology 2011

14. FGD Guide for Student Leaders
Zomba Mental Health Link 2010
FGD Guide for Student Leaders
In groups of 5-12 students, discuss these questions and write your responses on a flip chart. Choose one member to present it to the rest of the group.
What experiences/problems/challenges cause you excess sadness or worry?
Personal challenges
Social/relationship challenges
Educational challenges
Leadership challenges
Other challenges
How do you manage these problems? OR What strategies do you use to deal with your own problems? OR What do you do to cope with these challenges
Where/who do you first go to for help? If you do not get it where next do you seek help? (specific steps pathway to care)
Together, we will do a pair wise ranking of the coping strategies.
Young African Women Leaders Forum, Department of state ( USA) & Chancellor College -Department of Psychology 2011