A proposed model for establishing regional networks for global mental health research
Lessons from a collaboration across four East African countries
Bibliographic Data
The growing burden of mental disorders in sub-Saharan Africa is compounded by limited access to care, under-resourced systems and fragmented research and mentorship efforts. Existing research is often nationally isolated, dependent on unstable external funding and relies on models transposed from high-income countries without sufficient local adaptation. This article proposes a model for establishing regional “South–South” research networks, drawing on lessons from the East African Mental Health Collaborative (EAMHC), a partnership among institutions in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, and facilitated by Duke University. Formed in 2024, the EAMHC brings together early- to mid-career researchers and senior mentors to promote cross-country collaboration, mentorship and co-production of research. Using a hybrid structure of annual in-person meetings and monthly virtual engagements, the collaborative network emphasizes joint research output, capacity strengthening and sustainability through shared leadership and cross-learning. Early successes include the submission of three manuscripts and the procurement of two grants. The structure stresses equitable leadership, with East African investigators rotating as site leads to promote institutional ownership and protected research time. This proposed model demonstrates that regional networks can effectively pool limited expertise to develop contextually relevant, evidence-based solutions. By prioritizing bidirectional and peer-led mentorship and harmonized research frameworks, the EAMHC provides a scalable blueprint for strengthening mental health systems and fostering researcher independence in resource-limited settings.
Capacity building · East Africa · mental health system · regional research networks · research funding · research mentorship · researcher independence · Shared leadership · South-South cooperation · Sub-Saharan Africa · Global Health and Surgery · Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration · Mental Health Treatment and Access
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