Equitable capacity building from postgraduate diploma to PhD: strengthening the public mental health training pipeline
1
Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1114
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Introduction. Mental health conditions account for a substantial and growing proportion of the global burden of disease [1], and share common risk factors with other non-communicable diseases, underscoring the need for integrated prevention and care strategies [2]. In sub-Saharan Africa, health systems remain under-resourced, contributing to persistent treatment and prevention gaps [3]. Strengthening African-led mental health research and implementation capacity is critical to defining locally relevant priorities and scalable solutions [4]. Since 2012, the Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health has contributed to public mental health capacity building and, with the addition of a postgraduate diploma in public mental health in 2023, the Centre sought to address the growing need for accessible public mental health training, bridging the gap to Masters and PhD training [5,6]. Methods. Programme monitoring data from 2012 to 2025 were analysed, including enrolment, completion, disciplinary background and country of origin. Mixed methods evaluation data were collected to assess student experience and inform the development and implementation of the PGDip. Results. Since 2012, the Centre has supported 28 postgraduate diploma, 58 master’s, and 11 PhD graduates from 12 African countries and multiple disciplines, including psychiatry, social work, nursing and community youth work. The Africa-focused, globally informed PGDip was designed for working professionals and is delivered by faculty from five academic institutions across four African countries. Curriculum content integrates multidisciplinary perspectives and lived experience. Preliminary evaluation indicates high perceived relevance, improved skills in critical appraisal and programme evaluation, and enhanced capacity to apply evidence in policy and practice settings. Conclusion. Structured, Africa-led training programmes can strengthen regional public mental health capacity and contribute to workforce development aligned with population-level mental health needs.
Introduction. Mental health conditions account for a substantial and growing proportion of the global burden of disease [1], and share common risk factors with other non-communicable diseases, underscoring the need for integrated prevention and care strategies [2]. In sub-Saharan Africa, health systems remain under-resourced, contributing to persistent treatment and prevention gaps [3]. Strengthening African-led mental health research and implementation capacity is critical to defining locally relevant priorities and scalable solutions [4]. Since 2012, the Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health has contributed to public mental health capacity building and, with the addition of a postgraduate diploma in public mental health in 2023, the Centre sought to address the growing need for accessible public mental health training, bridging the gap to Masters and PhD training [5,6]. Methods. Programme monitoring data from 2012 to 2025 were analysed, including enrolment, completion, disciplinary background and country of origin. Mixed methods evaluation data were collected to assess student experience and inform the development and implementation of the PGDip. Results. Since 2012, the Centre has supported 28 postgraduate diploma, 58 master’s, and 11 PhD graduates from 12 African countries and multiple disciplines, including psychiatry, social work, nursing and community youth work. The Africa-focused, globally informed PGDip was designed for working professionals and is delivered by faculty from five academic institutions across four African countries. Curriculum content integrates multidisciplinary perspectives and lived experience. Preliminary evaluation indicates high perceived relevance, improved skills in critical appraisal and programme evaluation, and enhanced capacity to apply evidence in policy and practice settings. Conclusion. Structured, Africa-led training programmes can strengthen regional public mental health capacity and contribute to workforce development aligned with population-level mental health needs.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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