Global Talks: Growing well-being: Nature-based and community approaches to mental health in East Africa

We will open a conversation on mental health in East Africa, a topic that remains deeply stigmatised yet central to human well-being and sustainable development. This session explores how nature-based, agriculture-related, and community-driven approaches can offer pathways to resilience and care.  

International development and agricultural research are deeply shaped by human experience, yet mental health remains one of the most neglected dimensions. In East Africa, mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance use are increasing amid persistent barriers, including stigma, limited funding, workforce shortages, and uneven policy implementation.

This Global Talk explores culturally grounded, relational approaches to mental health inspired by the Ubuntu philosophy. Through case studies using the garden metaphor, green parenting, and the Tree of Life, it highlights nature-connected and community-based pathways to resilience and sustainable well-being.

Speakers

• Consolée Uwihangana is an Assistant Lecturer and Researcher in Social Work/Social Studies Department at the University of Rwanda and a PhD candidate in the Department of Social Work at the University of Gothenburg. Her doctoral research examines culture, the Rwandan family, and contemporary gender equality agendas. Her scholarly interests include gender and gender equality, women’s and human rights, disability, family, vulnerable groups, and the decolonisation and indigenisation of social work education and practice, with a particular emphasis on indigenous and community-based approaches such as Ubuntu. In recognition of her contribution to combating gender-based violence, she received the “Ubuntu Social Work Award” from the IFSW-Africa Region in 2020.
• Serge Nyirinkwaya, MNTCW, PhD is a child- and youth-focused mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) practitioner, narrative therapist, and community development worker with over 15 years of experience in education, child protection, youth development, family strengthening, MHPSS and anti-violence work across Canada and Eastern/Southern Africa. Serge has a strong record of direct practice with individuals, families, and groups, alongside systems-level experience in program design, training, supervision, quality assurance, culturally grounded interventions, and implementation in real-world settings. Serge is based at the University of Calgary.

When: 22 January at 15:00
Where: Zoom https://slu-se.zoom.us/j/66353892235
Pass code: 112233

No registration needed, just show up 

The Global Talk series presents inspiring and timely perspectives on global development, organised by the SLU Global coordinators almost every month.

Warmly welcome!

Anna Manourova, SLU Global network coordinator for LTV faculty