Purpose Calls for “mutuality” in global mental health (GMH) aim to produce knowledge more equitab... more Purpose Calls for “mutuality” in global mental health (GMH) aim to produce knowledge more equitably across epistemic and power differences. With funding, convening, and publishing power still concentrated in institutions in the global North, efforts to decolonize GMH emphasize the need for mutual learning instead of unidirectional knowledge transfers. This article reflects on mutuality as a concept and practice that engenders sustainable relations, conceptual innovation, and queries how epistemic power can be shared. Methods We draw on insights from an online mutual learning process over 8 months between 39 community-based and academic collaborators working in 24 countries. They came together to advance the shift towards a social paradigm in GMH. Results Our theorization of mutuality emphasizes that the processes and outcomes of knowledge production are inextricable. Mutual learning required an open-ended, iterative, and slower paced process that prioritized trust and remained respo...
Building on the value of engaging with and enabling the participation of marginalised young peopl... more Building on the value of engaging with and enabling the participation of marginalised young people in research, the aim of this article was to profile practical and procedural issues faced when conducting studies with young people who experience some form of marginalisation. Drawing on observations and research experiences from four diverse case studies involving young people who were either imprisoned in Cambodia, living in informal urban communities in North India, residing in rural northern Sweden or attending school in rural Zambia, learnings were identified under three thematic areas. Firstly, a need exists to develop trusting relationships with stakeholders, and especially the participating young people, through multiple interactions. Secondly, the value of research methods that are creative and context sensitive are required to make the process equitable and meaningful for young people. Thirdly, it is important to flatten power relations between adults and young people, resea...
Background Globally, there is increasing emphasis on the importance of understanding the ways in ... more Background Globally, there is increasing emphasis on the importance of understanding the ways in which social inequality and injustice impact individual and community mental health. Set in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, India, this thesis examines the complex relationships between individuals, communities and the social environment in relation to mental health. North India is characterised by stark gender and socio-economic inequalities and social exclusion for people with psycho-social disability (PPSD) and mental health services in these study areas were essentially absent. Community mental health competency means people are collectively able to participate in efforts to promote, prevent, treat and advocate for mental health. This thesis reflexively examines the presence and absence of community mental health competence in the upper Ganges region. Methods A mixed methods approach allowed for a multi-level examination of community mental health competence, and generat...
BackgroundGlobally, there is increasing emphasis on the importance of understanding the ways in w... more BackgroundGlobally, there is increasing emphasis on the importance of understanding the ways in which social inequality and injustice impact individual and community mental health. Set in the state ...
The Impact Evaluation of the Christchurch Urban Development Strategy (UDS) Health Impact Assessme... more The Impact Evaluation of the Christchurch Urban Development Strategy (UDS) Health Impact Assessment. Produced by the Community and Public Health Canterbury District Health Board (2007). Objectives of this impact evaluation are: • to consider how and to what extent the HIA impacted on the UDS • to consider the detail of these changes and why they were or were not accepted • to describe and where possible measure unintended consequences of the HIA in partner organisations as well as in the wider Canterbury region • to learn how to do things better and decide whether this type of HIA is a worthwhile input into strategic level policy. The HIA had significant direct and indirect impacts – related to policy change, culture change in partner organisations, relationships between health and local government in Canterbury region and the use of HIA more widely in New Zealand.
An asymmetric burden gendered experiences of caregivers of people with psycho-social disabilities... more An asymmetric burden gendered experiences of caregivers of people with psycho-social disabilities in North India
This analysis reflects on experiences and lessons from four country settings—Zambia, India, Swede... more This analysis reflects on experiences and lessons from four country settings—Zambia, India, Sweden and South Africa—on building collaborations in local health systems in order to respond to complex health needs. These collaborations ranged in scope and formality, from coordinating action in the community health system (Zambia), to a partnership between governmental, non-governmental and academic actors (India), to joint planning and delivery across political and sectoral boundaries (Sweden and South Africa). The four cases are presented and analysed using a common framework of collaborative governance, focusing on the dynamics of the collaboration itself, with respect to principled engagement, shared motivation and joint capacity. The four cases, despite their differences, illustrate the considerable challenges and the specific dynamics involved in developing collaborative action in local health systems. These include the coconstruction of solutions (and in some instances the proble...
Purpose Calls for “mutuality” in global mental health (GMH) aim to produce knowledge more equitab... more Purpose Calls for “mutuality” in global mental health (GMH) aim to produce knowledge more equitably across epistemic and power differences. With funding, convening, and publishing power still concentrated in institutions in the global North, efforts to decolonize GMH emphasize the need for mutual learning instead of unidirectional knowledge transfers. This article reflects on mutuality as a concept and practice that engenders sustainable relations, conceptual innovation, and queries how epistemic power can be shared. Methods We draw on insights from an online mutual learning process over 8 months between 39 community-based and academic collaborators working in 24 countries. They came together to advance the shift towards a social paradigm in GMH. Results Our theorization of mutuality emphasizes that the processes and outcomes of knowledge production are inextricable. Mutual learning required an open-ended, iterative, and slower paced process that prioritized trust and remained respo...
Building on the value of engaging with and enabling the participation of marginalised young peopl... more Building on the value of engaging with and enabling the participation of marginalised young people in research, the aim of this article was to profile practical and procedural issues faced when conducting studies with young people who experience some form of marginalisation. Drawing on observations and research experiences from four diverse case studies involving young people who were either imprisoned in Cambodia, living in informal urban communities in North India, residing in rural northern Sweden or attending school in rural Zambia, learnings were identified under three thematic areas. Firstly, a need exists to develop trusting relationships with stakeholders, and especially the participating young people, through multiple interactions. Secondly, the value of research methods that are creative and context sensitive are required to make the process equitable and meaningful for young people. Thirdly, it is important to flatten power relations between adults and young people, resea...
Background Globally, there is increasing emphasis on the importance of understanding the ways in ... more Background Globally, there is increasing emphasis on the importance of understanding the ways in which social inequality and injustice impact individual and community mental health. Set in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, India, this thesis examines the complex relationships between individuals, communities and the social environment in relation to mental health. North India is characterised by stark gender and socio-economic inequalities and social exclusion for people with psycho-social disability (PPSD) and mental health services in these study areas were essentially absent. Community mental health competency means people are collectively able to participate in efforts to promote, prevent, treat and advocate for mental health. This thesis reflexively examines the presence and absence of community mental health competence in the upper Ganges region. Methods A mixed methods approach allowed for a multi-level examination of community mental health competence, and generat...
BackgroundGlobally, there is increasing emphasis on the importance of understanding the ways in w... more BackgroundGlobally, there is increasing emphasis on the importance of understanding the ways in which social inequality and injustice impact individual and community mental health. Set in the state ...
The Impact Evaluation of the Christchurch Urban Development Strategy (UDS) Health Impact Assessme... more The Impact Evaluation of the Christchurch Urban Development Strategy (UDS) Health Impact Assessment. Produced by the Community and Public Health Canterbury District Health Board (2007). Objectives of this impact evaluation are: • to consider how and to what extent the HIA impacted on the UDS • to consider the detail of these changes and why they were or were not accepted • to describe and where possible measure unintended consequences of the HIA in partner organisations as well as in the wider Canterbury region • to learn how to do things better and decide whether this type of HIA is a worthwhile input into strategic level policy. The HIA had significant direct and indirect impacts – related to policy change, culture change in partner organisations, relationships between health and local government in Canterbury region and the use of HIA more widely in New Zealand.
An asymmetric burden gendered experiences of caregivers of people with psycho-social disabilities... more An asymmetric burden gendered experiences of caregivers of people with psycho-social disabilities in North India
This analysis reflects on experiences and lessons from four country settings—Zambia, India, Swede... more This analysis reflects on experiences and lessons from four country settings—Zambia, India, Sweden and South Africa—on building collaborations in local health systems in order to respond to complex health needs. These collaborations ranged in scope and formality, from coordinating action in the community health system (Zambia), to a partnership between governmental, non-governmental and academic actors (India), to joint planning and delivery across political and sectoral boundaries (Sweden and South Africa). The four cases are presented and analysed using a common framework of collaborative governance, focusing on the dynamics of the collaboration itself, with respect to principled engagement, shared motivation and joint capacity. The four cases, despite their differences, illustrate the considerable challenges and the specific dynamics involved in developing collaborative action in local health systems. These include the coconstruction of solutions (and in some instances the proble...
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Papers by Kaaren Mathias