eprintid: 10138340 rev_number: 14 eprint_status: archive userid: 608 dir: disk0/10/13/83/40 datestamp: 2021-11-16 16:47:31 lastmod: 2021-11-16 16:47:31 status_changed: 2021-11-16 16:47:31 type: article metadata_visibility: show creators_name: Hawkins, C creators_name: Bwanika, JM creators_name: Ibanda, M title: Socio-economic factors associated with mental health disorders in Fort Portal, western Uganda ispublished: pub divisions: UCL divisions: B03 divisions: C03 divisions: F22 keywords: mental health; mental health services; stigma; economic stress; outreach; Uganda note: Copyright © 2020 Charlotte Hawkins, John M. Bwanika, Martin Ibanda. This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). abstract: Background: Mental health disorders, which are interlinked with social issues such as poverty and stigma, present a significant burden in Uganda. / Aim: This article explores perceptions about and experiences of mental health disorders in western Uganda, particularly as they pertain to the socio-economic context. / Setting: The research was conducted in the mental health unit at the Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Kabarole District, Uganda. / Method: This article is based on qualitative anthropological research conducted from January to March 2017, including 49 semi-structured interviews about ideas and determinants of mental health, with health workers, former mental health service users, their relatives and influential community members. / Results: Many interviewees felt that mental health disorders are an increasing problem in their community. Economic challenges, such as poverty, unemployment and financial stress, are seen as both a cause and a consequence of mental illness. Mental health challenges can be exacerbated by shortages in mental healthcare, which are shown to be complexly interrelated with stigma. / Conclusion: This article provides an insight into mental health experiences in Fort Portal based on the perspectives of various interviewees. Further funding and research are recommended to inform contextually appropriate services. date: 2020-07-07 date_type: published publisher: AOSIS official_url: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v26i0.1391 oa_status: green full_text_type: pub language: eng primo: open primo_central: open_green verified: verified_manual elements_id: 1893513 doi: 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v26i0.1391 lyricists_name: Hawkins, Charlotte lyricists_id: CHAWK85 actors_name: Allington-Smith, Dominic actors_id: DAALL44 actors_role: owner full_text_status: public publication: South African Journal of Psychiatry volume: 26 article_number: a1391 pages: 8 citation: Hawkins, C; Bwanika, JM; Ibanda, M; (2020) Socio-economic factors associated with mental health disorders in Fort Portal, western Uganda. South African Journal of Psychiatry , 26 , Article a1391. 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v26i0.1391 <https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v26i0.1391>. Green open access document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10138340/1/Socio-economic%20factors%20associated%20with%20mental%20health%20disorders%20in%20Fort%20Portal%2C%20western%20Uganda.pdf