As the world marks World Mental Health Day on 10 October, the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) highlights new research showing how peer support can strengthen hope, social connection and recovery among people living with severe mental health conditions.

This year’s theme, “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change,” emphasises the importance of listening to people with lived experience of mental health challenges and involving them in shaping the support and services they receive.

In a recent study published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, researchers found that improvements in hope and social inclusion were associated with better personal recovery and health and social functioning among people living with severe mental health conditions. The study involved 565 participants across six research sites in Germany, Uganda, Tanzania, India and Israel.

The research was part of the international UPSIDES trial, which examined the potential benefits of structured peer support. Tanzania participated through research conducted in Dar es Salaam, with Ifakara Health Institute researchers Mary Ramesh and Donat Shamba among the study authors. Read more here [Insert link]

The findings highlight the importance of shared experiences, understanding and trust in mental health support, reinforcing the value of listening to people with lived experience and ensuring their voices inform research and services.

On World Mental Health Day, Ifakara recognises the importance of making lived experiences heard and turning these voices into meaningful change.