Program ARISE2: African mental health Researchers Inspired and Equipped

University Of Cape Town, Rondebosch

Investigators

Abstract

ARISE PROJECT SUMMARY Program ARISE (African mental health Researchers InSpired and Equipped) responds to PAR 18-901, and is led by the Alan J. Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health at the University of Cape Town in collaboration with the Department of Psychology at Stellenbosch University. This application builds on the findings and work conducted during a D71 planning grant .The aim of the project is to strengthen and extend the postgraduate pipeline in African public mental health to build capacity for non-communicable disease research across the lifespan, building on the extensive capacity-building experience of CPMH and our African network. The objectives of the ARISE program are: 1. To deliver and evaluate a distance postgraduate diploma in public mental health in Africa. 2. To train Masters and PhD students to conduct public mental health research relevant to their setting, with a focus on the integration of mental healthcare into routine care for NCDs and infectious diseases, and into community responses to public health threats, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. 3. To strengthen distance learning, teaching and mentoring skills, and postgraduate student supervision teamwork and capacity within a regional African network of institutions. 4. To implement and evaluate short courses in implementation and policy research for policymakers, NGOs and academics from diverse disciplines. On completion of the grant, we will have a well-functioning distance learning PGDip platform and program attracting applications from self-funded candidates in addition to those funded through other mechanisms. We expect to have trained 30 PGDip, 4 Masters and 2 PhD trainees, and at least 8 PGDip graduates would have enrolled for a Masters degree. We anticipate that the Masters and PhD graduates will continue to be involved in public mental health research, and will be mentoring and supervising postgraduate trainees. We will have trained 20 faculty members across our regional network in remote teaching and postgraduate student supervision and we expect that the early career faculty members will be supervising at least one postgraduate student each as a primary supervisor. We would have trained 40 policymakers, NGO staff members and academics in implementation, health services and policy research, and expect that at least 75% would have used their skills/knowledge in their work within a year of completing the course.