Interactive Radio Program Report: An Integrated Approach to Addressing the Issue of Youth Depression in Malawi and Tanzania

Anxiety and depressive disorders among youth are increasingly recognized as a health care priority need in low-income countries such as Malawi and Tanzania. However, there is a dearth of mental health care available for young people with Depression throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as poor mental health literacy, high levels of stigma and discrimination, and a weak capacity at the community level to address these needs. Here we discuss a unique and innovative radio-based approach to improving mental health literacy and creating a demand for mental health services – part of a larger project called An Integrated Approach to Addressing the Issue of Youth Depression in Malawi and Tanzania.