Generation Malawi: A study of family, maternal and childhood mental health

Lead Research Organisation: University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences

Abstract

A lack of research training, resources, infrastructure and data in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) greatly limits their ability to conduct studies of common mental health conditions. Nowhere is this more true than in Africa generally and in Malawi specifically, where sparse mental health care alone limits not only clinical research capacity, but also the ability to attract inward investment. In a partnership between UK and Malawian institutions, we propose to directly address this challenge by building clinical research capacity through the coordinated appointment of new researchers and research assistants, a programme of education and dissemination, and the development of a population mental health dataset focussed on an area of great unmet need - the mental heath of mothers and their children.

After a period of piloting our research assessments and obtaining the necessary approvals, we will recruit 5000 mothers prior to delivery of their child from antenatal clinics in Lilongwe and Karonga districts, selected to represent urban and rural populations respectively. We will assess the mental health of mothers before and after birth, and the mental health of their spouses and other family members with a view to identifying the major risk factors for mental health disorders and mitigating variables that promote resilience. We will then examine the impact of maternal and, where possible, paternal mental health on the neurodevelopment of their offspring.

In addition to creating new and highly valuable data, we will also create the bioresources needed for future genetics and 'omics based research. We believe this is essential to prevent the current imbalance in genetic research favouring rich countries of predominantly European ancestries leading to greater entrenchment of global health inequalities.

As part of the proposed work, we will develop internationally competitive research capacity and datasets in Malawi, augment standard of care treatment, develop research training and the availability of affordable and effective interventions for depression and other common mental disorders, such as the "Friendship Bench" intervention. Our research will be multidisciplinary, involving experts from psychiatry, clinical psychology, nursing, reproductive and child health, and social sciences in both UK and Malawi. Throughout the project, we will carefully monitor our progress and impact on the participants and their communities.

The project, if funded, will lead to a step change in mental health research capacity in Malawi, paving the way for new inward investment and the development of evidence based interventions and policies.

Technical Summary

A lack of research training, clinical capacity, resources, infrastructure and data in Malawi, greatly limits its ability to attract inward investment and conduct mental health research and healthcare improvements. We propose to directly address this challenge by building clinical research capacity through the coordinated appointment of new researchers and research assistants, a programme of education and dissemination and the development of a population mental health dataset focussed on an area of great unmet need - the mental heath of mothers and their children. We will recruit 5000 mothers prior to delivery of their child from antenatal clinics in Lilongwe and Karonga districts, selected to represent urban and rural populations respectively. We will assess the mental health of mothers before and after birth, and the mental health of their spouses and other family members with a view to identifying the major risk factors for mental health disorders and mitigating variables that promote resilience. We will then examine the impact of maternal and, where possible, paternal mental health on the neurodevelopment of their offspring. We will create a new and highly valuable dataset and bioresource for future genetics and 'omics based research.

Planned Impact

Generation Malawi will deliver HEALTH, ECONOMIC and SOCIAL IMPACTS by engaging country stakeholders - women, families, academic groups, healthcare providers, policy makers and governments. We will build data resources, research and healthcare capacity and sustainability through our links to charitable organisations and research funders, philanthropy, private investment and national governments.

HEALTH IMPACT
Healthcare providers, policy makers and governments will benefit from new knowledge on the scale and correlates of poor maternal and family mental health and how this influences the developing infant. We will engage with healthcare providers and researchers through local communications with clinician networks including the African Alliance on Maternal Mental Health (AAMMH), the African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI) and through existing training links between the Universities of Edinburgh, Cape Town and Malawi, and through the Malawi-Scotland partnership (https://www.scotland-malawipartnership.org). We will engage with existing national media and radio, local knowledge brokers and our existing network of community contacts including churches, school festivals, and art/drama for health activities. Government and policy maker engagement will be achieved through targeted meetings and workshops and inclusion of policy leaders in our Advisory group. Health academic impacts will be disseminated through open access publications, video clips on university websites, and through our many education routes. We have world class expertise in Edinburgh in data collection, analysis, archiving and data sharing, complying with regulations in privacy and data protection.

ECONOMIC IMPACT
The availability of an internationally competitive training environment in Malawi, incoming investment for mental heath research capacity building, new dataset and bioresources of DNA and relevant samples will ensure that the research is sustainable and attracts further inward investment. The resources created will be valuable for UKRI, Wellcome Trust and other charitable and philanthropic funders in both mental, neonatal and physical health. Philanthropic funders, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, are also keenly interested in maternal mental health as a risk factor for infant mortality and morbidity but without the investment proposed in our application, it is uncertain that mental health research in Malawi would be sufficiently competitive to attract the investments required to sustain its future stability and development.

SOCIAL IMPACT
We anticipate that our proposal, healthcare and public involvement will further disseminate the value of scientific research in mental health and reduce stigma. The information obtained from our planned research programme will enable the correlates and causes of risk and resilience of mental disorders to be identified in a local context. This will have wide ranging positive effects on healthcare and social policy as governments in Malawi and elsewhere in the region access the new knowledge provided.

Publications

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Amos A (2023) PROMISE in Action: Fostering Inclusive Research through Lived Experience Engagement in Malawi in World Association Psychosocial Rehabilitation Bulletin

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Barbu MC (2021) Epigenetic prediction of major depressive disorder. in Molecular psychiatry

 
Description Formative activities:
Community sensitization

Engagement with relevant stakeholders; DHO/chiefs etc in Lilongwe to establish urban cohort in Area 25 Lilongwe. Engaged residents of Karonga, and Area 25 Lilongwe at both an individual and community level and health services on all aspects of the study.

Publication: Ndambo, M. K., Pickersgill, M., Bunn, C., Stewart, R. C., Umar, E., Nyasulu, M., . . . Manda-Taylor, L. (2023). Maternal mental health research in Malawi: Community and healthcare provider perspectives on acceptability and ethicality. SSM - Mental Health, 3, 100213. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2023.100213

Qualitative investigation of men's views and experiences of mental health during and after pregnancy. Data collected, analysis and manuscript writing underway.
Adaptation and validation of measures
• Battery of measures chosen, translated, adapted, piloted and in use
• Criterion validation of PHQ9 (depression), GAD7 (anxiety) & PC-PTSD (ultra-brief PTSD screen) against DSM-5 (SCID) clinical expert diagnoses of depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder & post-traumatic stress disorder.
• 850 screening interviews, 512 SCIDs (high scorers and random sample of low scorers)
• Adapted PHQ9 and GAD7 show acceptable test characteristics, PC-PTSD analysis underway

Ethics approval
Approval for the formative work granted by the Malawi College of Medicine Research Ethics Committee 21st April 2020 and from University of Glasgow College of Medicine, Veterinary and Laboratory Sciences Research Committee 13th August 2020.
Approval for the establishment of the birth cohort granted by the Malawi National Health Sciences Committee on 7th May 2021, with subsequent amendments also approved. Approval from the University of Glasgow College of Medicine, Veterinary and Laboratory Sciences Research Committee granted 8th April 2021.
Importantly, approvals included data sharing, genomics and storage of biosamples for future studies through establishment of a biorepository (the first approval for a formal research biobank in Malawi).

Systems Strengthening: Antenatal Clinics
Through a strategic NIHR award we have established (through a developed and validated training programme) a midwife-led early pregnancy ultrasound service at the two facilities where women are recruited (published). This, critically for GM, includes reliable gestational dating. We are also supporting implementation of a Ministry of Health digital health information system in maternity services at participating facilities (being validated against outcomes from the birth cohort) to facilitate future documentation of clinical information, with future utility in extending the birth cohort.

Systems Strengthening: Mental Health Clinics
We established mental health clinics in rural Karonga and Urban Lilongwe Area 25. Participants with suicidal ideation and/or high depression scores, are referred to the clinics from Generation Malawi, Healthy Lives Malawi (the linked Wellcome award which includes a long-term physical and mental health survey in the same communities) and nested studies. Further referrals accepted from MOH staff as part of facility support. 631 participants have been referred to date.
"Malawi Quick Guide to Mental Health" developed with partners and published as part of Covid-19 response. Utilised by clinic staff. "Malawi Maternal Mental Health Manual" produced and awaiting publication; pilot trainings held with pre-post evaluation of knowledge and attitudes.

Cohort establishment
SOP and data collection tools piloted and finalised. Initial and refresher training held for health facility teams (MEIRU and Ministry of Health staff) field teams (interviewer and biosampler), data teams and laboratory teams.
Includes mental health and exposure measures (see above), questionnaire and examination data on physical health and nutrition (including, since a MRC cohort enhancement award, body composition of infants using PEAPODS) and collection of biosamples at multiple time points. Detailed protocol and data collection tools available on request, protocol publication imminent.

Delayed recruitment commenced in Chilumba (rural) in Feb 2022, and in Lilongwe (Urban) Nov 2022. Recruitment figures (women at baseline on presentation to antenatal clinics) shown in graph, to date, and projected.

Table: Recruitment to date at "major" contacts and projections.
(NB: does not include data on "minor" contacts: Third Trimester, 1 week, 6 week, 52 week, 78 week contacts)
Planned
start date Actual
start date To 31st Oct 2023 Projected to 31st Jan 2024 Projected to 31st Dec 2024
(at reduced rate, will stop new recruits Jun 2024)
Rural Karonga October 2020 Feb 2022
Urban Lilongwe April 2021 Nov 2022
Screened & Eligible Mothers 1,615 2,000 2,250
Recruited Mothers 1,400 1,750 2,100
Recruited Fathers 543 700 850
Babies delivered & recruited 914 1,100 2,000
16-week follow-up 478 700 2,000
Samples collected* 27,922 35,000 45,000
*includes: maternal & paternal venepuncture (EDTA [for plasma and DNA extraction] and Serum), maternal mucosal & skin swabs, placental biopsies, cord blood, infant blood, infant swabs, saliva, hair, breast milk. Stored in multiple aliquots.

Biorepository
1. Established a biorepository working group to oversee all the samples collected throughout the study
Exploitation Route The datasets and linked bioreporsity are already being used by others to submit their own grant applications for funding. The infromation is being used by national government in Malawi to infrom policy. All datasets are made available to researchers, on application.

Most recently, the Generation Malawi resource, linked expertise and capacity has been included as a component of an application to MRC for a Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) in Mental Health.
Sectors Environment

Healthcare

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

 
Description We have engaged with healthcare providers in Karonga and Lilongwe and begun the processes leading up to the formative work and piloting of study questionnaires. We have involved local opinion leaders, decision makers and others. It will be possible to expand on the scope of this impact in future returns. Unfortunately, however, progress of our research and the flow of new findings has been severely hampered by Covid-19. Nevertheless, we have now begun to recruit mothers for the bio banking parts of the study and we have enlarged recruitment to fathers and other family members.
First Year Of Impact 2022
Sector Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice
Impact Types Societal

Policy & public services

 
Description Activities in support of Malawi response to Covid-19 2020/21 - Malawi Mental Health response discussion forum
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
 
Description Activities in support of Malawi response to Covid-19 2020/21 - The Malawi Quick Guide to Mental Health
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
Impact Evaluation through a survey of 20 health care providers in Malawi showed improvements from baseline in knowledge and confidence, and perception of improved patient care. This evaluation is being written up a QI publication.
URL http://www.smmhep.org.uk/sites/default/files/eMalawi%20Quick%20Guide%20to%20Mental%20Health%20v1%20%...
 
Description PRENCOG Scientific Advisory Committee Chair
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact The PRENCOG study has lead to imporvmenets in capacity building and staff training throughout the PRENCOG study investigators' insitutions and collaborators.
 
Description Scottish Science Advisory Council
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description (CoMorMent) - Predicting comorbid cardiovascular disease in individuals with mental disorder by decoding disease mechanisms
Amount € 5,998,613 (EUR)
Funding ID 847776 
Organisation European Commission 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 01/2020 
End 12/2023
 
Description A longitudinal population survey of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and associated health and socio-economic outcomes, in urban and rural Malawi.
Amount £106,147 (GBP)
Organisation Government of Scotland 
Department Scottish Funding Council
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2020 
End 07/2020
 
Description Building capacity in maternal mental health in Malawi: production of a clinical handbook
Amount £38,500 (GBP)
Funding ID University of Edinburgh UKRI ODA Impact and Development Grant 2022/2023 13329654 
Organisation United Kingdom Research and Innovation 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2022 
End 03/2023
 
Description CHECKPOINT: Finding immune & metabolic pathways to SMI
Amount £3,499,251 (GBP)
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 02/2028
 
Description Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society - Extension
Amount £844,510 (GBP)
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2023 
End 04/2024
 
Description Depression Genetics in Africa (DepGenAfrica)
Amount £2,002,780 (GBP)
Funding ID 223165/Z/21/Z 
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2022 
End 04/2027
 
Description Edinburgh Mental Health ECR Seed Funding Scheme
Amount £5,000 (GBP)
Organisation University of Edinburgh 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2024 
End 07/2024
 
Description Edinburgh Molecular Mechanisms Cluster
Amount £53,131,306 (GBP)
Funding ID MR/Y030877/1 
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 02/2028
 
Description Enhancement of Generation Malawi
Amount £216,000 (GBP)
Organisation United Kingdom Research and Innovation 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2022 
End 03/2022
 
Description Exploiting genomic approaches to identify the environmental basis of depression
Amount £2,530,384 (GBP)
Funding ID 220857/Z/20/Z 
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2021 
End 05/2026
 
Description Exploiting genomic approaches to identify the environmental basis of depression
Amount £2,530,384 (GBP)
Funding ID 220857 
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2021 
End 12/2025
 
Description MALAWIAN PROGRAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH TRAINING (WARMHEART)
Amount $249,990 (USD)
Funding ID D43TW011794 
Organisation National Institutes of Health (NIH) 
Department Fogarty International Centre
Sector Public
Country United States
Start 08/2020 
End 05/2025
 
Description Metabolism in Psychiatry
Amount £3,200,000 (GBP)
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 02/2028
 
Description Multimorbidity in Africa - Increasing Understanding of the Patient Experience and Epidemiology (MAfricaEE)
Amount £199,515 (GBP)
Funding ID MR/T037849/1 
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2020 
End 09/2021
 
Description My depression, your depression - same name, different stories
Amount £65,600 (GBP)
Funding ID 217078/Z/19/Z. 
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2020 
End 12/2020
 
Description Non-invasive biomarkers of stress in mothers, fathers and infants in urban and rural Malawi: a feasibility study
Amount £95,989 (GBP)
Funding ID MR/T038683/1 
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2020 
End 03/2021
 
Description One Health Models of Disease: Science, Ethics and Society
Amount £5,328,962 (GBP)
Funding ID 218471/Z/19/Z 
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2020 
End 09/2028
 
Description Psychosis Recovery Orientation in Malawi by Improving Services and Engagement (PROMISE)
Amount £3,039,622 (GBP)
Funding ID 223615/Z/21/Z 
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2022 
End 12/2026
 
Description Psychosis Recovery Orientation in Malawi by Improving Services and Engagement (PROMISE)
Amount £3,039,622 (GBP)
Funding ID 223615/Z/21/Z 
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2022 
End 03/2027
 
Description Social Science issues relating to Monkeypox
Amount £165,778 (GBP)
Funding ID ES/X010805/1 
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2022 
End 03/2023
 
Description Targeting Therapies: Exploring the Cultural and Normative Dimensions of 'Targeted' Approaches to Biomedicine and Public Health
Amount £29,607 (GBP)
Funding ID AH/W011417/1 
Organisation Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2022 
End 05/2024
 
Description Transforming Primary Care in Scotland and China to meet the needs of an ageing population - are health inequalities being tackled?
Amount £832,923 (GBP)
Funding ID ES/T014164/1 
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2020 
End 08/2024
 
Description Collaboration with Regeneron 
Organisation Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have discussed the development of a genotyping agreement with Regeneron (Genomics Network, RGN) and we have provided information on Generation Malawi and other linked studies. We have engaged with the relevent parties in Malawi and are in the process of discussing possible future terms and conditions for an acceptable collaboration with Regeneron
Collaborator Contribution Regeneron have offered to provide whole genome sequencing data on members of Generation Malawi and other Malawi cohorts, in which UKRI have an interest.
Impact No specific outputs or outcomes have been provided so far
Start Year 2023
 
Description Malawi Scotland Maternal Mental Health Partnership - a THET funded collaboration between Maternal Mental Health Scotland (MMHS); St John of God Hospitaller Services, Malawi; University of Edinburgh; and College of Medicine, Malawi 
Organisation Maternal Mental Health Scotland
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution University of Edinburgh (Angus Macbeth and Robert Stewart) support the project through expertise in training material development and monitoring and evaluation methods. Stewart is also closely involved in organisational activities on the ground in Malawi.
Collaborator Contribution Maternal Mental Health Scotland (MMHS) is a Scottish Charity, registered in 2014, whose members include health professionals and women with a lived experience of perinatal mental health problems. MMHS looks to improve the provision of perinatal mental health services; to educate the public and the medical profession; and to bring practitioners, patients, and families together. St John of God Hospitaller Services (SJOG) is a registered NGO that has been providing mental health services and education in Malawi since 1993. It established services in Mzuzu in the Northern Region, and has recently opened a 50-bedded mental health centre (with attached community services) in Lilongwe, Central Region. The SJOG College of Health Sciences trains psychiatric nurses and clinicians at degree level, as well as offering psychosocial counselling courses. Purpose of the partnership is to support the development of community based support activities led by women with lived experience in Malawi, as well as enhancing training of primary care health workers and staff in SJOG's facilities where women with severe mental disorders (e.g. postpartum psychosis) receive care.
Impact £10000 seed funding from Tropical Health Education Trust (THET) Visit to Malawi from 09/11/19 till 19/11/19 - 3 members of Maternal Mental Health Scotland (MMHS) visit to hosts St John of God (SJOG) where a programme had been organised - this included meeting the management and clinical teams, a presentation on the MH services provided by SJOG, and a question and answer session to enable the MMHS team develop an understanding of the mental health landscape in Malawi and consider the context, and in particular perinatal mental health (PNMH) provision, planning sessions on what the partnership can support, education/teaching session with clinical teams, and initial meeting with women who had accessed perinatal mental health care through SJOG to establish links with MMHS Change Agents and consider support and development of a pathway going forward. • Basic initial training to core staff teams at SJOG and Zomba • Malawi team engaged a group of capable, enthusiastic and empowered women with lived experience of maternal mental health problems to start the process of establishing peer support and how this would best meet the needs of women who are treated at SJOG. These women attended a workshop and were fully interactive and engaged in this process supported by the SJOG team. 45 pregnant women accessed 2 maternal mental health talks delivered by SJOG clinical staff who had attended the training delivered by UK team
Start Year 2019
 
Description Malawi Scotland Maternal Mental Health Partnership - a THET funded collaboration between Maternal Mental Health Scotland (MMHS); St John of God Hospitaller Services, Malawi; University of Edinburgh; and College of Medicine, Malawi 
Organisation St John of God Mzuzu, Malawi
Country Malawi 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution University of Edinburgh (Angus Macbeth and Robert Stewart) support the project through expertise in training material development and monitoring and evaluation methods. Stewart is also closely involved in organisational activities on the ground in Malawi.
Collaborator Contribution Maternal Mental Health Scotland (MMHS) is a Scottish Charity, registered in 2014, whose members include health professionals and women with a lived experience of perinatal mental health problems. MMHS looks to improve the provision of perinatal mental health services; to educate the public and the medical profession; and to bring practitioners, patients, and families together. St John of God Hospitaller Services (SJOG) is a registered NGO that has been providing mental health services and education in Malawi since 1993. It established services in Mzuzu in the Northern Region, and has recently opened a 50-bedded mental health centre (with attached community services) in Lilongwe, Central Region. The SJOG College of Health Sciences trains psychiatric nurses and clinicians at degree level, as well as offering psychosocial counselling courses. Purpose of the partnership is to support the development of community based support activities led by women with lived experience in Malawi, as well as enhancing training of primary care health workers and staff in SJOG's facilities where women with severe mental disorders (e.g. postpartum psychosis) receive care.
Impact £10000 seed funding from Tropical Health Education Trust (THET) Visit to Malawi from 09/11/19 till 19/11/19 - 3 members of Maternal Mental Health Scotland (MMHS) visit to hosts St John of God (SJOG) where a programme had been organised - this included meeting the management and clinical teams, a presentation on the MH services provided by SJOG, and a question and answer session to enable the MMHS team develop an understanding of the mental health landscape in Malawi and consider the context, and in particular perinatal mental health (PNMH) provision, planning sessions on what the partnership can support, education/teaching session with clinical teams, and initial meeting with women who had accessed perinatal mental health care through SJOG to establish links with MMHS Change Agents and consider support and development of a pathway going forward. • Basic initial training to core staff teams at SJOG and Zomba • Malawi team engaged a group of capable, enthusiastic and empowered women with lived experience of maternal mental health problems to start the process of establishing peer support and how this would best meet the needs of women who are treated at SJOG. These women attended a workshop and were fully interactive and engaged in this process supported by the SJOG team. 45 pregnant women accessed 2 maternal mental health talks delivered by SJOG clinical staff who had attended the training delivered by UK team
Start Year 2019
 
Description Planned creation of African Population Cohort Consortium 2020 
Organisation African Academy of Sciences
Country Kenya 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Through cohort work in Malawi and ANDLA network, invited to be part of Africa-wide consortium developing plans for region-wide initiative, supported by multiple funders and with multiple partners
Collaborator Contribution Experience in cohort establishment and data harmomonisation
Impact not yet
Start Year 2020
 
Description Planned creation of African Population Cohort Consortium 2020 
Organisation Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Country United States 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Through cohort work in Malawi and ANDLA network, invited to be part of Africa-wide consortium developing plans for region-wide initiative, supported by multiple funders and with multiple partners
Collaborator Contribution Experience in cohort establishment and data harmomonisation
Impact not yet
Start Year 2020
 
Description Planned creation of African Population Cohort Consortium 2020 
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Through cohort work in Malawi and ANDLA network, invited to be part of Africa-wide consortium developing plans for region-wide initiative, supported by multiple funders and with multiple partners
Collaborator Contribution Experience in cohort establishment and data harmomonisation
Impact not yet
Start Year 2020
 
Description Planned creation of African Population Cohort Consortium 2020 
Organisation National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Country United States 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Through cohort work in Malawi and ANDLA network, invited to be part of Africa-wide consortium developing plans for region-wide initiative, supported by multiple funders and with multiple partners
Collaborator Contribution Experience in cohort establishment and data harmomonisation
Impact not yet
Start Year 2020
 
Description Planned creation of African Population Cohort Consortium 2020 
Organisation Wellcome Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Through cohort work in Malawi and ANDLA network, invited to be part of Africa-wide consortium developing plans for region-wide initiative, supported by multiple funders and with multiple partners
Collaborator Contribution Experience in cohort establishment and data harmomonisation
Impact not yet
Start Year 2020
 
Description '(De-)Medicalising Antisociality', 'Mental Health Labels: Should Feelings be Medicalised?', U. Edinburgh, 25th Nov 2020 (speaker). 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Patients, carers and/or patient groups
Results and Impact '(De-)Medicalising Antisociality', 'Mental Health Labels: Should Feelings be Medicalised?', U. Edinburgh, 25th Nov 2020 (speaker).

Online international panel discussion, sparking conversations about the role of psychiatry in everyday life and what it might look like in the future.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description 'COVID-19 shows how governments need to work more closely with experts in the social aspects of biomedicine' - blog 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 1. Pickersgill, M. (2021) 'COVID-19 shows how governments need to work more closely with experts in the social aspects of biomedicine', Campaign for Social Science (Academy of Social Sciences), 19th May 2021, https://campaignforsocialscience.org.uk/news/covid-19-shows-how-governments-need-to-work-more-closely-with-experts-in-the-social-aspects-of-biomedicine/
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description 'Covid vaccine presents its own challenges' - letter to The Guardian 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Pickersgill, M. (2020) 'Covid vaccine presents its own challenges', letter to The Guardian, 3rd Dec 2020, https://tinyurl.com/3u42dnxj .
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description 'Knowing and Evidencing Mpox: A Policy and Research Engagement Event' 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact 'Knowing and Evidencing Mpox: A Policy and Research Engagement Event', UCL/U. Edinburgh (via Zoom), 28 March 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description 'Making Sense of Our Selves through Biological Imagery and Imaginaries' 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 'Making Sense of Our Selves through Biological Imagery and Imaginaries', Being Human Festival, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, 17 Nov 2023 (organiser and speaker).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description 'Pandemic preparedness, recovery, and the vital role of social science' 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Pickersgill, M., Manda-Taylor, L., and Niño, N. (2023) 'Pandemic preparedness, recovery, and the vital role of social science', Cost of Living, 30 Aug 2023, https://tinyurl.com/mr2vyr3y.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description 'Reflections on Science, Ethics and Society', 'Meet the Researcher' sessions, Scotland Science Insights Online, 29th July 2020 (speaker). 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 'Reflections on Science, Ethics and Society', 'Meet the Researcher' sessions, Scotland Science Insights Online, 2020 and 2021 (speaker).

Online open day for Scottish school pupils, sparking interest in social science
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020,2021
 
Description 'Stories of Diagnosis' 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 'Stories of Diagnosis', Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, 27 Sept 2023 (organiser and chair).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Authored article on 'To tackle Covid, politicians need to be radical' for The Herald, https://tinyurl.com/4rfdzu3j (25th Nov 2021). 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Authored article on 'To tackle Covid, politicians need to be radical' for The Herald, https://tinyurl.com/4rfdzu3j (25th Nov 2021).

Sparked interest from MPs and MSPs
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Authored article on 'We must do more to make mental health our priority' for The Herald, https://tinyurl.com/2zrj69kk (25th March 2021). 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Authored article on 'We must do more to make mental health our priority' for The Herald, https://tinyurl.com/2zrj69kk (25th March 2021).

Resulted in invitation to join Cross-Party Group on Mental Health (Scottish Parliament)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Being Human Festival event 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 'Bedtime Stories for the Brain', Being Human Festival, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, 21st Nov 2019. (co-organiser and speaker).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Chair: 'Explaining Mental Illness', online panel discussion, U. Edinburgh, 29th June 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Chair: 'Explaining Mental Illness', online panel discussion, U. Edinburgh, 29th June 2022.

Promoted a range of discussions about the nature of mental ill-health, and the politics and practices of researching it.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Coverage of Lancet Regional Health - Europe and The Lancet publications on COVID-19 discussed within a range of international media (e.g., MSN, Politico etc.), including features in various outlets (e.g., BBC Russia) (Aug-Sept 2021). 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Coverage of Lancet Regional Health - Europe and The Lancet publications on COVID-19 discussed within a range of international media (e.g., MSN, Politico etc.), including features in various outlets (e.g., BBC Russia) (Aug-Sept 2021).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Engagement with Scottish Parliament MSPs 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The event showcased the work of the Medical Research Council (MRC) in Scotland. It brought together researchers from across the country into one place to talk with MSPs and other sector stakeholders about their work, the impact it is having in Scotland, the UK and beyond.

The event opened with speeches from Lewis Macdonald MSP (who hosted the event), Richard Lochhead MSP and Professor Fiona Watt, MRC Executive Chair.

During the event MSPs, key government officials and other sector stakeholders were able to explore the different exhibition stalls, speak to researchers and learn about the impact of their work. At our stand, we engaged directly with many MSPs including the Minister for Mental Health and the Minister for Sport. We held productive conversations and follow-on meetings were arranged.

The event provided an opportunity to increase understanding amongst MSPs of the MRC's strategic vision and the leading role it plays in improving human health, innovation and economic growth by seeing first-hand the research that is taking place and the researchers that make it happen.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.parliament.scot/visitandlearn/104642.aspx
 
Description Event: 'Stories for Our Bodies', Being Human Festival, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, 12th Nov 2022 (co-organiser and speaker). 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Event: 'Stories for Our Bodies', Being Human Festival, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, 12th Nov 2022 (co-organiser and speaker).

This sparked questions and discussions with a mixed audience, and was very positively evaluated.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Instagram public engagement event 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 'Social and Ethical Aspects of Biobanks', Instagram public engagement event, U. Edinburgh 25th-26th Feb 2020 (co-organiser).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Interview and quotes for Euronews on the social dimensions of vaccine mandates for COVID-19. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interview and quotes for Euronews on the social dimensions of vaccine mandates for COVID-19. Printed as: Alice Tidey, 'Is it counterproductive to make vaccines mandatory?', https://tinyurl.com/2p8jsef9 (12th Jan 2022).

This resulted in further invitations and engagements.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Interview and quotes for Euronews on the social dimensions of vaccine mandates for COVID-19. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interview and quotes for Euronews on the social dimensions of vaccine mandates for COVID-19. Printed as: Alice Tidey, 'Is it counterproductive to make vaccines mandatory?', https://tinyurl.com/2p8jsef9 (12th Jan 2022).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Interview and quotes for La Tercera on the societal consequences of COVID-19. Printed as: Fernanda Rojas Alvarado, '"Nueva normalidad": La experiencia de Israel y Reino Unido, los líderes en vacunación', https://tinyurl.com/3uzrtr5d (30th April 2021). 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interview and quotes for La Tercera on the societal consequences of COVID-19. Printed as: Fernanda Rojas Alvarado, '"Nueva normalidad": La experiencia de Israel y Reino Unido, los líderes en vacunación', https://tinyurl.com/3uzrtr5d (30th April 2021).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description MRC Prevention Task and Finish Group Member 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact MRC Prevention Task and Finish Group Member (2023-24).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
 
Description Open University PolicyWISE Invitational series. Facilitator for Mental Illness ONline Seminar. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Invited seminar on mental health to 20+ policy makers from across 4 nations of United Kingdom. Discussion session led to increase in awareness of mental health and it's relationship to social determinants of health, social care impacts and policy implications.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Path from the pandemic: take off the blinkers 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Pickersgill, M. (2022) 'Path from the pandemic: take off the blinkers', Research Professional, 20th March 2022, https://tinyurl.com/39bfn446.

Highlighted the vital - yet neglected - role of social science in tackling pandemics.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://tinyurl.com/39bfn446
 
Description Perinatal, Infant & Intergenerational Mental Health: Pieces of the jigsaw 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact Invited to give keynote opening talk on perinatal mental health to Mellow Parenting/Homestart Worldwide online seminar. Feedback from event indicated increasing awareness of links between perinatal/infant mental health and broader child and family outcomes. Direct approach from Homestart Worldwide for collaboration.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfp0e76NurM
 
Description Schools engagement even on ELSI 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 'Reflections on Science, Ethics and Society', 'Meet the Researcher' sessions, Scotland Science Insights Online, 29th July 2020 (speaker).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Visit by Jeane Freeman, Cabinet Secretary for Health in Scotland 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Hosted by Professor Andrew McIntosh, the Cabinet Secretary met MRC researchers working on the MRC Mental Health Data Pathfinder award and the Generation Malawi project, both based at the University of Edinburgh.

The Cabinet Secretary, was welcomed by Vice Principal, Professor Jonathan Seckl, and heard from researchers about how the Scottish Government can support researchers in the vital work they are doing, for example by improving access to data.

Ms Freeman said: "These two projects being funded by the MRC are important. Improving mental health is a priority for the Scottish Government and research looking at the causes and consequences of mental health conditions, both in Scotland and abroad, is crucial."

In genuine two-way dialogue, the cabinet secretary not only heard about the two projects but was also able to offer her advice and input to the researchers. She recommended several people that the researchers should contact, and these suggestions are being followed up.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://mhdss.ac.uk/news/19/08/9/visit-jeane-freeman-cabinet-secretary-health-scotland
 
Description Visit from Dr Catherine Calderwood, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Dr Catherine Calderwood, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, visited Mental Health researchers at the University of Edinburgh in January to hear about the projects the team is working on in Scotland and Malawi.

She was welcomed and accompanied on the visit by The Principal of the University of Edinburgh, Professor Peter Mathieson.
The researchers were keen to impress upon Dr Calderwood the importance of Big Data Science to the future of mental health research.

Dr Calderwood replied: "The time is now to talk about this. Everyone has Mental Health."

High on the agenda at the meeting was the pending public consultation around the use of Guthrie Cards [newborn blood spots] for research. The researchers asked Dr Calderwood to lend her support towards further action which would allow this wealth of blood and DNA data to be used to improve healthcare for all.
Dr Calderwood indicated a change in her view and a desire to expedite this consultation.

Dr Calderwood also mentioned her upcoming visit to Malawi and a desire to visit our researchers who are based there. We will continue to liaise with her team to arrange this.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://mhdss.ac.uk/news/20/02/27/chief-medical-officer-scotland-visits-researchers