COVID-19 and Psychological Distress in Africa: Communitarian Perspectives

This book explores the intersection of mental health and African communitarianism in the context of COVID-19, highlighting the need for localised mental health systems and interventions to address the unique challenges faced by vulnerable populations. It draws on communal values and localised knowledge to cultivate resilience and promote overall mental health.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This timely book delves into the intricate intersection between mental health and African communitarianism, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. By offering a platform for the voices of vulnerable populations who face pre-existing challenges like depression, anxiety, and stress, it sheds light on the unique experiences of African communities. Through critical analysis, the book explores the role of media, information, misinformation, and disinformation during this period on individual and community-based mental health. By adopting a holistic approach, it emphasizes the importance of localizing mental health systems and clinical services to ensure better standards of care and comprehensive, context-specific mental health interventions that account for the diverse heterogeneity within and between African regions.

Nuanced evidence and analysis are presented to demonstrate how communitarian perspectives enable African societies to strike a harmonious balance between collective solidarity and individual well-being, ultimately benefiting overall mental health. The book appeals to scholars, postgraduate students, researchers, and practitioners in psychology, philosophy of mental health, public health policy, cultural studies, and the sociology of pandemics.

Moreover, the Open Access version of this book, accessible at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license, ensuring widespread access and dissemination of valuable insights.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032546308