Free mental health app for Malawian healthcare workers
In Malawi, there are three Consultant Psychiatrists for a population of approximately 20 million people so it is clear that they cannot rely solely on specialists to provide mental health care.
Dr Donncha Mullin, and Dr Rob Stewart (both Clinical Brain Sciences, Psychiatry) have worked with partners in Malawi, the Scotland-Malawi Mental Health Education Project (SMMHEP) to help address this problem, by launching the ‘Malawi Quick Guide to Mental Health’ app, which is aimed at the busy primary health worker in Malawi.
The app is completely free and provides practical information for the assessment and management of mental disorders in Malawi, but there is something in it for anyone caring for people with mental illness or distress. Available for download for free on Android or Apple
SMMHEP is grateful for the contribution of Dr Donncha Mullin, Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh and NHS Psychiatrist, who took the lead in writing and editing the Guide along with Dr Rob Stewart, Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, in collaboration with partners in Malawi. Many thanks also go to Owen Mwale, Atupele Milanzi and the many SMMHEP contributors for their roles in editing and translating sections into Chichewa. Many thanks to our partners in Malawi who were all instrumental in its development - The College of Medicine at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, St John of God Hospitallier Services, and the Mental Health Users and Carers Association (MeHUCA). This app was developed for free by the Scottish technology firm Tactuum - https://www.tactuum.com/ - their generosity made it possible.