Kelly Nhu Tran

University of Maryland Global Campus

Due Date: 04/25/2023

GHMT 640

Proposal to Alleviate Mental Health issues in Nigeria, Africa.

General Information

Organization

Organization Name:	Mental Health Organization in Nigeria
U.S. Tax Status (Refer to Tax Status Definitions):

Institutional Official authorized to submit and accept grants on behalf of organization:

Prefix		First name		Surname	Suffix
Title	Mental Health Aleviation		Telephone
Address

E-mail	[email protected]
Web site	Mentalhealth.org

Project

Project Name:

Alleviating Mental Health in Nigeria

Principal Investigator/Project Director:

Prefix		First Joseph		Surname	Felix
Title	Director		Telephone
Address			Fax

E-mail
Web site	Mentalhealthniger.org

Amount Requested From Foundation, (not to exceed $3M USD):

$ 2.5M USD

Project Duration (months):

8 months

Estimated Total Cost of Project ($USD):

$ 4M USD

Organization’s total revenue for most recent audited financial year ($USD):

$ 5M USD

Geographic Location(s) of Work and Area(s) to be Served

Geographic Location(s) of Work refers to all locations (country, and region/state if known) in which work will be performed with funds from this grant. This includes locations in which sub-grantees or sub-contractors will work. In the table below please provide the location and the approximate amount estimated to be spent in each location. For example: A $1,000,000 grant may reflect $600,000 to be spent in the United States and $400,000 to be spent in South Africa. If you propose to have staff working across multiple locations, costs may be allocated to the location where they will spend the majority of time. Please reflect the total requested grant amount.

Geographic Location(s) of Work
Country and Region/State	Amount
Nigeria/ Africa	$ 6M USD
Total Grant Request	$ 6M USD

Geographic Areas to be Served refers to all countries intended to benefit from this grant. This is where the target population is located, not necessarily where the work is occurring. For India, include the names of states. “World” is an acceptable response if there will be broad public benefit. In the table above, please provide the location and the approximate amount estimated to be spent in each location. Please reflect the total requested grant amount.

Geographic Area(s) to be Served
Country/Continent	Amount
Nigeria Africa	$ 6M USD
	$ 6M USD
Total Grant Request	$ 6M USD

Regulated Research, Lobbying and Global Access

Regulated Research: The following questions are intended to identify proposals that involve humans, animals, or sensitive regulated research. Please consult with your assigned program officer if there are any questions regarding how these questions should be answered. Note that the Gates Foundation reserves the right to request copies of any documents that pertain to regulated research supported by our funds.

Will the project involve research using human subjects?	YES
Will the project involve research using vertebrate animals?	NO
Will the project involve the use of recombinant DNA?	YES
Will the project involve the use of biohazards?	YES
Will the project involve the use of genetically modified organisms or plants?	YES
Will the project involve the use of pathogens/toxins identified as select agents by U.S. law?	YES NO

Restrictions on Lobbying Activities: The Foundation is prohibited from conducting or funding any lobbying or political campaign activities, as these terms are specifically defined under U.S. tax law. Unlike many of our grantees who may engage in limited lobbying, the Foundation cannot lobby or fund any lobbying activities carried out by its grantees. We request that you please review the information at the following link, Foundation Funds and Advocacy, to assess whether any of your proposed activities may constitute lobbying as defined by the IRS. If so, you should revise your proposal accordingly prior to submission.

Will this project include lobbying activities?

Charitable Purpose

Charitable Purpose.

To address the issue of mental health problems in Nigeria and Africa effectively is the primary goal of this proposal’s comprehensive plan development. The strategy to improve mental health outcomes in the region involves implementing prevention methods alongside early intervention and treatment plans. Implementation and sustainability for an extended period are key features of this project which aims at reducing existing mental health disparities prevalent in Nigeria (Labinjo,2020).

Executive Summary.

This plan endeavors to improve psychological well-being in Africa’s Nigeria by granting admittance to psychological wellness administrations and bringing issues into light while diminishing shame. It likewise targets fortifying the current emotional wellness framework. The provision of essential psychological support including counselling & Psychotherapies forms a significant part of this initiative’s core objectives. Furthermore, its aim includes running Public Awareness Campaigns geared towards reducing stigmatization whilst simultaneously strengthening capacities within our Mental Healthcare System. To implement this project successfully while ensuring its sustainability requires partnership between local stakeholders who provide input on how to allocate financial resources alongside receiving technical assistance from experts. Monitoring and evaluation activities are also necessary components.

In order to address mental health issues across Nigeria and Africa as a whole, this proposal outlines a thorough plan. Efforts are being made through a plan to minimize discrepancies in mental healthcare and improve long-lasting psychological well-being within the locality. Sustainable prevention techniques coupled with effective early interventions and treatments will be at the forefront of this long-term implemented project. In Nigeria an organization consisting of proficient mental health practitioners would carry out the project while drawing on both local and foreign stakeholder’s experience.

III. Context

Nigeria and Africa as a whole have overlooked the importance of mental healthcare for too long. Mental healthcare facilities are severely lacking in the country with just one available for every million individuals. The scarcity of available mental health services means that numerous individuals suffering from such disorders go unnoticed and untreated. Also, mental health stigma is common throughout the society and there are inadequate policies or regulations related to mental healthcare in the country.

Through increased accessibility of resources such as better facilities for treatment coupled with a reduction in stigmatization surrounding seeking help for one’s own well-being are some ways that this proposal hopes to address key issues. The promotion of a supportive environment for mental health recognition and support as well as accessibility to required services will result from these activities (Jidong,.2021)

Mental health challenges are prevalent and pose a significant problem in Nigeria situated within Africa. The leading cause of disability within this region is attributed to Mental health disorders which affects approximately 1 out 5 people according to The World Health Organization. With just one psychiatrist and psychologist per 1 million people in Nigeria mental health services are inadequate. Mental health service accessibility is further hindered by negative attitudes towards those with a mental illness that discourage them from getting help. In addition to that mental health issues are frequently not identified and treated which results in a growing load of inequalities in the area.

Project Framework.

By focusing on offering critical support services such as counseling sessions or medication management alongside innovative outreach efforts designed specifically towards combating negative stereotypes about psychiatric disorders this initiative hopes not only increase treatment rates but also promote greater understanding amongst communities. The implementation of the project will involve local stakeholders as partners while sustaining it through technical assistance provision alongside financial resources and monitoring and evaluation activities.

Through this project’s efforts to expand access to mental health services in Nigeria and Africa will be improved. Those in need will receive counseling and psychotherapy services while local mental health providers are trained. By offering technical support and capacity-building activities to providers of mental health services the project aims to enhance their quality (Kaiser,2019).

To decrease the stigma associated with mental illness the project will generate campaigns to raise public awareness. Designing campaigns to inform individuals about mental health and assert its position as a universal human right is what will be done.

In Nigeria and Africa context, the project will focus on improving the mental health system. The provision of technical support along with capacity-building initiatives for both policymakers and mental health experts is how we plan on achieving our objective (Agberotimi,2021). In addition to improving access to mental healthcare facilities, the project will work towards enhancing service delivery standards by providing necessary resources and training programs for healthcare providers.

Sustainability

To sustain the project technical assistance will be given along with financial resources and monitoring & evaluation activities. Technical assistance that emphasizes capacity-building activities for providers and policymakers is what mental health professionals from partner organizations will provide. Grants and donations will supply the necessary financial resources to fund the project’s activities. The responsibility for carrying out monitoring and evaluation activities that evaluate the project’s impact lies with mental health professionals.

Organizational Capacity and Management Capability.

The Nigerian government and mental health organizations are amongst the local stakeholders that will partner in implementing this project. The composition of the project team will include experienced mental health professionals who provide mental healthcare services and develop public awareness campaigns (Ajefu,2020). A Project Manager has been appointed as Team Leader with responsibilities including planning out and directing this particular venture. Achieving goals set out by projects requires effective management which can be achieved through collaboration between Project Managers with teams consisting solely or partially from Mental Health Professionals responsible for Technical Support & Progress Tracking.

References

Labinjo, T., Serrant, L., Ashmore, R., & Turner, J. (2020). Perceptions, attitudes and cultural understandings of mental health in Nigeria: A scoping review of published literature. Mental health, religion & culture, 23(7), 606-624.

Jidong, D. E., Husain, N., Francis, C., Murshed, M., Roche, A., Ike, T. J., … &Gumber, A. (2021). Mental health experiences of mothers in Jos, Nigeria: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. SAGE open medicine, 9, 2050312120970714.

Agberotimi, S. F., Akinsola, O. S., Oguntayo, R., & Olaseni, A. O. (2020). Interactions between socioeconomic status and mental health outcomes in the Nigerian context amid COVID-19 pandemic: a comparative study. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 559819.

Ajefu, J. B., Demir, A., &Haghpanahan, H. (2020). The impact of financial inclusion on mental health. SSM-population Health, 11, 100630.

Kaiser, B. N., Ticao, C., Anoje, C., Minto, J., Boglosa, J., &Kohrt, B. A. (2019). Adapting culturally appropriate mental health screening tools for use among conflict-affected and other vulnerable adolescents in Nigeria. Global Mental Health, 6, e10.