‘Mental Health, Stigma and Neglected Tropical Diseases’ journal supplement launches

Last week we launched our supplement ‘Mental Health, Stigma and Neglected Tropical Diseases’ in our journal International Health.

Neglected tropical diseases result in physical impairment and disabilities and are associated with substantial comorbidity with mental health conditions, frequently driven by social stigma and exclusion. In recent years there has been substantial growth in interest in this intersection.

This supplement was made possible with support from CBM Global, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, The Leprosy Mission, The Carter Centre, Effect Hope, and grants from the National Institute for Health Research, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and UK Aid.

Dr Julian Eaton, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Global Mental Health at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Mental Health Director at CBM Global Disability Inclusion, as well as Co-Guest Editor of the supplement, said: "Global normative guidance like the WHO NTD Roadmap, and clear advocacy from national actors, has led to NTD leaders recognising the importance of mental health as a consideration in supporting people affected by NTDs. There is now a need to provide evidence to enable provision of support at scale, and this Supplement contains examples of how a vibrant research community is starting to address this gap."

Dr Laura Dean, Lecturer at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Co-Guest Editor of the supplement, said: “This supplement aimed to centre the voices and lived experiences of people affected by NTDs and mental health conditions in unlocking the solutions to their own challenges and in raising awareness of this critical issue. 

“We still have far to go in ensuring that indigenous forms of knowledge and lived experience are given equal weighting and representation in scientific evidence, however, we hope that this supplement highlights innovation in addressing mental health, stigma and NTDs, based on rich understandings of local contexts and lived experiences of affected persons, their families and communities.”

The supplement was launched last week at an event at the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

The articles contained in the supplement, which is formed of two parts, are below.