Celebrating a Decade of Excellence in African Mental Health Research
This September marks a milestone for the African Mental Health Research Initiative, we are celebrating ten years of advancing mental health research across the continent. Founded in September 2015, we began with a vision: to nurture a new generation of African leaders in mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) research. Over the past decade, this vision has grown into a vibrant, Africa-led network that is shaping the future of mental health.
In AMARI Phase 1 (2015 – 2022), we recruited and trained 48 fellows - 19 MPhil students, 24 PhD students, and 5 postdoctoral researchers. These fellows have not only excelled in research but have also become leaders, advocates, and mentors in their own right.
Our Alumni have published over 100 peer reviewed scientific publications, each one contributing to a deeper understanding of mental health challenges and solutions in Africa.
AMARI’s influence reaches into policy and practice. Some of our PhD and post-doctoral Alumni now hold key positions in Ministries of Health and the World Health Organisation, where they shape mental health policies and programs. Others have advanced in academia, taking on roles as senior lecturers, Deans, and mid-career researchers, inspiring the next generation of mental health researchers.
When we began this journey 10 years ago, we were operating in four African countries. Today, as we implement our second phase; AMARI-II (2023 – 2027), we have expanded to six African countries, covering Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa. In addition, we also have the University of Ibadan and, University of Makeni as collaborators.
In AMARI-II, our fellowship community has grown to 85 fellows. Our current cohort reflects a balanced gender representation and brings together fellows from eight universities across Africa.
Since 2015, we have been building capacity in African mental health research, creating pathways for African researchers to lead, innovate, and influence global mental health discourse.
As we celebrate a decade of excellence in African mental health research, we remain committed to transforming the global mental health research landscape by harnessing the collective expertise of our consortium partners.