African-led innovations showcased as mental health data prize concludes in Mombasa

African-led innovations aimed at improving mental health prevention, treatment and recovery took centre stage in Mombasa as the Mental Health Data Prize Africa (MHDP-A) initiative concluded its final convening on Monday.

The event, organised by the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) in partnership with Wellcome, showcased ten data-driven innovations developed by African teams to address growing mental health challenges across the continent.

The innovations included digital and community-based screening tools for early identification and referral of mental health conditions, youth-focused interventions co-designed with people who have lived experience, data platforms to strengthen mental health evidence systems, and community-led initiatives targeting stigma, recovery and resilience.

The Mental Health Data Prize Africa initiative has supported African-led teams since 2023 in developing solutions aimed at tackling anxiety, depression and psychosis using data and evidence-based approaches.

The programme seeks to bridge gaps in mental health services, which continue to be constrained by limited funding, workforce shortages, stigma and weak data systems across many African countries.

Speaking during the convening, APHRC Executive Director Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi underscored the importance of people-centred approaches in addressing mental health challenges.

"Mental health is something we all have, shaped from the earliest years of life. When people feel safe, heard and supported, they are better able to build resilience and thrive," she said.

She added that creating space for open conversations can help reduce stigma and ensure that individuals facing mental health challenges are not left to cope in isolation.

Wellcome representative Ekin Bolukbasi said investing in locally developed solutions is critical to improving mental health outcomes across Africa.

"Investing in African-led mental health innovation is essential if we are to close critical gaps in evidence and care," she said, noting that the initiative had demonstrated how data and collaboration can generate scalable solutions tailored to local realities.

The Ministry of Health's Director of Family Health, Dr. Bishar Issak, called for the use of data to drive practical interventions, saying every statistic represents real people and communities in need of support.

"Behind every mental health statistic is a person, behind every data point is a family, and behind every trend is a community looking to us for solutions. Data must not only inform research, but it must also drive action," he said.

Participants at the convening also held discussions on the future of mental health research, financing, policy and innovation in Africa, with calls for sustained investment in African-led evidence generation and community-responsive mental health systems.

According to APHRC, the MHDP-A initiative brings together researchers, policymakers, innovators, data scientists and people with lived experience to develop context-specific solutions aimed at improving mental health outcomes across the continent.