Latest News | Scotland Malawi Mental Health Education Project

SMMHEP at RCPsychIC 2024

Last week, SMMHEP presented their study examining the impact of the Malawi Mental Health Guide on frontline mental health workers in Malawi. This collaboration between key stakeholders in mental health in Malawi has resulted in the Mental Health Guide being distributed to 400 health centres around Malawi, with information on the assessment and management of mental health conditions in Malawi. It has also led to the development of a free mobile application that has been downloaded nearly 1000 times.

Joint working in Risk Assessment, Aberdeen

Dr Olive Liwimbi, Vincent Moyo, Isabell Yangairo

SMMHEP was delighted to welcome three colleagues from Zomba Hospital, Malawi to Aberdeen for joint working on Risk Assessment. Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Olive Liwimbi, Clinical Officer Vincent Moyo and Senior Nursing Officer Isabell Yangairo were hosted by NHS Grampian staff in Royal Cornhill Hospital Blair Unit.

We are recruiting!

Honorary Clinical Lecturer: Malawi. We need a resourceful qualified psychiatrist to work in Malawi to help coordinate and deliver a psychiatric training programme with our Malawian colleagues at Kumuzu University, Blantyre. The post receives a bursary of £24,000 with free accommodation and travel expenses and use of a car. The post would be ideal for a recently retired psychiatrist or one coming out of (or entering) specialist training.

Volunteers returning to Malawi!

We're excited to say that we're now able to support volunteers to return to Malawi for the first time since the start of the pandemic! We are keen in particular to recruit a long-term volunteer (3 months or longer) and are so grateful that the enthusiasm from potential short-term volunteers has carried over the last 24 months. If you'd like to volunteer, please email sarahleslie.smmhep@gmail.com.

Download the Malawi Quick Guide to Mental Health app

The Malawi Quick Guide to Mental Health app is available to download here for free:Android

Opportunity for a long-term volunteer!

Now that the world is opening up, we're looking for a longer-term volunteer to teach undergraduate psychiatry in Malawi! If you are interested in spending a few months or more in a beautiful country teaching motivated and engaging students then please email sarahleslie.smmhep@gmail.com for information.

Quick Guide to Mental Health Review

We're so proud of this really positive review of The Malawi Quick Guide to Mental Health! https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-bulletin/article/malawi-...Click on the link below to download a copy of the Quick Guide for free.

Delivery of Quick Guide to Districts

The Malawi Quick Guide to Mental Health has now been delivered to over 600 health facilities in 28 districts around the country with the aim of improving mental health care for Malawians!Many thanks for a superb distribution job Owen Mwale and Atupele Indira!

BJPsych International Publication

Thank you to Dr Philippa Lilford for writing your 'Mental Health in Malawi article about your time volunteering with SMMHEP. A really enjoyable and illuminating read which will be particularly valuable to new volunteers!

Article abstract:

Press Launch of The Malawi Quick Guide to Mental Health

Along with partners in Malawi, SMMHEP is proud to launch 'The Malawi QuickGuide to Mental Health' aimed at healthcare professionals with little to no experience of managing mental illness or distress. The COVID-19 pandemic has galvanised its completion due to the likelihood of increased rates of mental illness during and after the pandemic and the predicted need for healthcare professionals to cross cover different specialities. SMMHEP is grateful for the very significant contribution of Dr Donncha Mullin who took the lead in writing and editing the Guide and in coordinating a very succes