SDGHI is hosting the Asia Hub of the Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN Asia).

The network serves as a regional platform to promote knowledge-sharing and foster connections and impactful collaborations. It brings together individuals and organizations passionate about advancing mental health in Asia and beyond.

MHIN Asia aims to:

• Foster knowledge synthesis
• Disseminate evidence
• Translate evidence to practice
• Enhancing engagement

Landscape Assessment of Mental Health Innovations in South and Southeast Asia

Investigator/s: Dr Paul Pronyk, Dr Anne-Claire Stona 
Funding Source/s: Paris Cité Grant, awarded 2023

Project Description: This project aims to advance mental health as a health priority in the region. Specific objectives include:

• understand the needs and barriers to prevention and care
• showcase innovative and evidence-based solutions and ideas to promote and improve the lives of people with mental conditions
• discuss the role of economic evaluation to strengthen health systems and scale up cost-effectiveness interventions and care services in the region
• establish a regional mental health network to facilitate mental health knowledge translation, capacity building, regional cross-sharing and innovation

Project Status: Ongoing
Contact: Dr Anne-Claire Stona 

Economic consequences of common mental health conditions and adverse childhood experiences

Investigator/s: Prof Eric Finkelstein
Funding Source/s: SDGHI Pilot Grant Award, awarded 2023

Project Description: Following the landmark study done in Singapore to quantify the prevalence and economic burden of depression and anxiety symptoms in Singapore, a similar methodology will be used to replicate this study in Sri Lanka. Results will be used to educate key stakeholders and the public to identify strategies to address a pressing public health need in a lower-resource setting.

Project Status: Ongoing
Contact: Prof Eric Finkelstein

Economic Consequences of Common Mental Health Conditions and Adverse Childhood Experiences in Indonesia

Investigator/s: Prof Eric Finkelstein (Duke-NUS), Prof Elmeida Effendy (USU)
Funding Source/s: USU-SDGHI Pilot Grant Award, awarded 2023

Project Description: This study aims to quantify the prevalence and economic burden of common mental health conditions as well as adverse childhood experiences among Indonesian youths and adults. Findings will help inform policymakers and other stakeholders on potential policies and interventions to address these public health challenges.

Contact: Prof Eric Finkelstein / Prof Elmeida Effendy

Global mental health is featured as a key topic area in several courses offered by SDGHI in the newly developed Graduate Certificate in Practice of Global Health in Asia. These include:

• Practice of Global Health in Asia: An Introduction (GMS6961)
• Non-Communicable Diseases: Building Health Systems Capacity (GMS5153)
• Adolescent Mental Health in Asia (GMS5154)

Join the SDGHI mailing list to keep up to date with any new educational developments, including future courses or workshops on global mental health.