Abstract:
Studies show that mental health promotion is an effective strategy that can reduce the burden of
mental health disorders and improve overall well-being in both children and adults. In addition
to promoting high levels of mental well-being and preventing the onset of mental illness, these
mental health promotion programmes, including mental illness prevention interventions, help
increase levels of mental health literacy in community members. While there is evidence
showing the effectiveness of mental health promotion, much of what is known about this field
is informed by studies conducted in high-income countries. There is a need to gather evidence
about the effectiveness of such interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)
where mental health services are often inadequate. In this systematic review, we synthesised the
available published primary evidence from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) on the types and effectiveness of mental health promotion programmes for young people. We performed a search of
selected global databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar) and regional
databases (Sabinet African Journals). We included observational, mixed methods, trials, pilots
and quantitative original papers published from 2013 to 2023. We used the Mixed Methods
Appraisal Tool (MMAT) to evaluate the quality of methods in selected studies, and the Preferred
Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement (PRISMA-2020) for
reporting the evidence gathered. We identified 15 types of youth mental health promotion
and illness prevention interventions. Among those identified, we found that school-based
interventions enhanced mental health literacy, mental health-seeking behaviours and selfassurance and confidence among young people. Family-based interventions also showed a
potential to improve relationships between young people and their caregivers. Future studies
should explore how to further strengthen school- and family-based interventions that promote
mental health among young people.
