Addis Ababa University

Abdilahi Elmi is a PhD fellow from Borama, Somaliland. He is a senior lecturer at the School of Psychology, Jigjiga University. He previously served as the Director of the East African Child Development Research Institute under the Research Vice President of Jigjiga University. Abdilahi holds two Bachelor's degrees one in Psychology and another in Management from Jigjiga University. He also holds Higher Diploma program for teaching from Jigjiga University. Additionally, he earned two Master's degrees: one in Psychology of Peace and Conflict Studies and another in Social Work, both from Jigjiga University.

He is currently a PhD fellow in Mental Health Epidemiology at Addis Ababa University, funded by the African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI) II. Abdilahi has extensive practical experience as a mental health and psychosocial support technical consultant, as well as in managing research projects. He has been involved in various research studies and supervised the first-ever mental health and substance abuse survey in the Somali region. His research interests focus on adolescent mental health. Abdilahi’s PhD project is titled Developing Culturally Responsive Interventions: A Collaborative Approach to Creating Effective Mental Health and Substance Use Programs for Adolescents in the Case of Hargeisa and Borama, Somaliland.