Current state of the literature on mental health in Liberia: A systematic review

South African Journal of Psychiatry

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Current state of the literature on mental health in Liberia: A systematic review
 
Creator Hook, Kimberly Ando, Kanako Ghebrehiwet, Senait Harris, Benjamin Ojediran, Babawale Syeda, Haniya Henderson, David Borba, Christina
 
Subject Psychiatry; Psychology; Mental Health Ebola; mental health disorders; Liberia; intervention and assessment; psychiatric interventions; substance use practices; adolescent
Description Background: The Republic of Liberia recently experienced several events that resulted in wide-ranging societal impacts, including long-term civil war and an outbreak of Ebola. These types of events are linked to higher prevalence of mental disorders and psychosocial distress. As a result, it is likely that there is an increased prevalence of mental health disorders in the population.Aim: To assess and review the recent mental health literature in order to provide insight into existing mental health needs and effective or recommended interventions in post-conflict Liberia.Setting: Articles included in this study enrolled Liberians living in Liberia.Methods: A search of four databases was conducted for studies of any type that assessed mental health in Liberia between 01 January 2003 and 27 March 2019. After reviewing 363 articles, 21 articles were included in the final analysis. Articles were coded to identify common themes and needs.Results: The majority of studies used qualitative designs and were conducted in Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia. Common topics included adolescent mental health, intervention and assessment and post-conflict impacts. One article focused on mental health impacts after recovery from Ebola.Conclusion: Overall, there is a dearth of mental health literature that focuses on Liberia. This suggests ample opportunity for researchers to investigate mental health needs amongst the Liberian population and effective psychiatric interventions. Existing recommendations often focus on addressing adolescent health needs, including substance use practices. Opportunities for future research particularly related to needs of adult populations and to mental health impacts of Ebola, abound.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor NIMH T32 MH116140-02
Date 2020-10-26
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v26i0.1502
 
Source South African Journal of Psychiatry; Vol 26 (2020); 9 pages 2078-6786 1608-9685
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1502/1817 https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1502/1816 https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1502/1818 https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1502/1815
 
Coverage Liberia — —
Rights https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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