The purpose of the LSHTM MHPSS Research Network is to support collaborative research on MHPSS at LSHTM and partners. The network will encourage links between LSHTM researchers and collaborators working on different MHPSS topics and research disciplines, through meetings, special events, and sharing information, including through a regular newsletter. We very much encourage members to join the network
LSHTM has been involved in a wide range of MHPSS research studies, global support for preparedness and response, and training. We work with many partners, and further details on our research can be found on our Research page. Examples of our research outputs can be found on our Publications page.
The MHPSS Research Network at LSHTM organises and promotes MHPSS research events, providing a forum for sharing internally, and to external groups and opportunities.
There are over 200 million people affected by armed conflict globally, including over 90 million forcibly displaced persons such as refugees and internally displaced persons. There are millions more affected by public health emergencies, natural disasters, extreme weather events and other effects of climate change. These events can all have major consequences on the mental health and wellbeing of crisis-affected persons.
Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) includes any type of support that people receive to protect or promote their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. Staff at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and partners have been involved in a wide range of research, teaching and guidance on MHPSS needs and responses around the world.
Purpose
The purpose of the MHPSS Research Network at LSHTM is to support collaborative research on MHPSS at LSHTM and partners. We wish to encourage links between LSHTM researchers and academic non-academic partners working on different MHPSS topics and research disciplines.
Our objectives are to:
- Foster a supportive environment for MHPSS research at LSHTM
- Support the full research cycle on MHPSS at LSHTM
- Raise the internal and external visibility of MHPSS research at LSHTM
- Support connections with operational and policy agencies to maximise the impact the MHPSS research at LSHTM
- Facilitate MHPSS research capacity strengthening activities
Become a member
We very much welcome new members to the MHPSS Research Network (no LSHTM affiliation is required). Members receive our quarterly newsletter and occasional email invitations to meetings, seminars, and events (emails will be kept to a minimum we promise!). Please sign up to become a member. If you would like to be a more active member (and are based at LSHTM), or would like further information, please email Catharina.Van-der-Boor@lshtm.ac.uk.
We also welcome suggestions for relevant events and are happy to promote any events or activities that are relevant to the MHPSS Research Network. Please feel free to email us such events.
The MHPSS Network core team
We have a core team of LSHTM staff and partners who support the MHPSS network.
Collaborators
LSHTM
- UK Public Health Rapid Support Team
- Centre for Global Mental Health,
- Health in Humanitarian Crises Centre
- Centre for Global Chronic Conditions
- Climate Change and Planetary Health
External collaborators
- Bremen University
- CBM Global
- Health Right International
- Ilia State University, Tbilisi
- National Mental Health Programme in Lebanon
- National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy
- Positive Negatives
- St. Joseph’s University – Beirut
- University of Copenhagen
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- War Child
Other MHPSS networks
LSHTM has been involved in a wide range of MHPSS research studies with partners. Information on current and recent research projects is given below.
MHPSS research projects at LSHTM
CHANGE which is developing and evaluating a transdiagnostic intervention addressing mental health comorbidities (alcohol misuse, depression, anxiety and PTSD) among conflict-affected populations in Uganda and Ukraine.
GOAL which seeks to support government and partners in health system strengthening for better mental health of Syrian refugees and host communities in Lebanon, including applying co-production principles.
which aims to strengthen public mental health in Africa in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious disease outbreaks.
which is evaluating psychological interventions with Syrian refuges and their potential for scaling-up.
Recent MHPSS network publications, by theme, are provided in the drop down menus below.
- Armed Conflict and Forced Migration
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Massazza A, May C, Roberts B, Tol WA, Nadkami A, Fuhr DC. Beyond box ticking: A qualitative study on the current use of process evaluations of mental health and psychosocial support interventions in humanitarian crises. Social Science and Medicine. 303, 114994. June 2022.
Owen E, Massazza A, Roberts B, Lokot M, Fuhr D. "Nothing about us, without us"? A qualitative study of service user involvement in the development of lay-delivered psychological interventions in contexts affected by humanitarian crises. Journal of Migration and Health. Vol.5. 2022.
Massazza A, Fuhr DC, Bogdanov S, et al. A complex intervention for alcohol misuse among conflict-affected populations in Uganda and Ukraine: Study protocol for the qualitative components in the CHANGE trial. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. 20. 2022.
Christy S, Siriwardhana C, Lohmann L, Roberts B, Smith S. Quality of Mental Health Questionnaires in Conflict-Affected Adult Populations in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Systematic Review. Journal of Migration and Health. 4, 100068. 2021. doi:
Woodward A, Dieleman M, Sondorp E, Roberts B, Fuhr DC, Ventevogel P, Sijbrandij M, Broerse J. System Innovation Perspective on the Potential for Scaling up Innovative Brief Psychological Interventions for Refugees. Intervention. 19 (1), 26-36. 2021. DOI: 10.4103/INTV.INTV_29_20
Fuhr DC, Bogdanov S, Tol WA, Nadkarni A, Roberts B. Problem Management Plus and Alcohol (PM+A): A planned new intervention to address alcohol mis use among conflict-affected populations. Intervention. 19 (1), 141-143. 2021. DOI: 10.4103/INTV.INTV_27_20
Troup J, Fuhr D, Woodward A, Sondorp E, Roberts B. Barriers and Facilitators for Scaling Up Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Interventions in Low- and Middle-Income Countries for Populations Affected by Humanitarian Crises. International Journal of Mental Health Systems. 15(5). 2021. DOI
Ryan GK, Bauer A, Endale T, Qureshi O, Cerga-Pashoja A, Doukani A, Brar S, Eaton J, Bass JK. Lay-delivered talking therapies for low- and middle-income countries affected by humanitarian crises: A systematic review, 2021; 15(1):1-6
- Public Health Emergencies
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Walker A, Alkasaby MA, Baingana F, Bosu WK, Abdulaziz M, Westerveld R, Kakunze A, Mwaisaka R, Saeed K, Keita N, Walker IF, Eaton J. Challenges and Opportunities for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in the COVID-19 Response in Africa: A Mixed-Methods Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(15):9313.
Gronholm PC, Nosé M, van Brakel W, Eaton J, Ebenso B, Fiekert K, Hanna F, Milenova M, Sunkel C, Barbui C, Thornicroft G. Reducing stigma and discrimination associated with COVID-19: rapid review and practical recommendations. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Services, 2021; 30(e15)
Kola L, Kohrt BA, Hanlon C, Naslund JA, Sikander S, Balaji M, Benjet C, Cheung EY, Eaton J, Gonsalves P, Hailemariam M. COVID-19 mental health impact and responses in low-income and middle-income countries: reimagining global mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2021; 8(6):535-50
- Climate Change
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Eaton J, Nwefoh E, Duncan J, Sangare O, Weekes Y, Adams B. Addressing mental health and wellbeing in the context of climate change: Examples of interventions to inform future practice. Intervention 2022 :107
Massazza A, Eaton J, Elshazly M, Charlson F, Augustinavicius JL. Opportunities for the Use of Brief Scalable Psychological Interventions to Support Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Context of the Climate Crisis Intervention 2022 :128
Augustinavicius JL, Graef V, Massazza A, Engels M, Eaton J, Hill K, Ungar M, Snider L. Priorities for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Intervention Research in the Context of the Climate Crisis: A Modified Delphi Study. Intervention, 2022 :68
Gray BL, Eaton J, Jayakumar C, Duncan J, Hanna F, Kasi S. A Proactive Approach: Examples for Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Programming. Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2021; 54(102051)
The MHPSS Research Network at LSHTM organises and promotes events and activities on MHPSS.
Events
Panel Discussion: Climate Change, Mental Health, and Forced Displacement​
MHPSS Network newsletters
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