- 25 Feb, 2025
- Juliana Nakiwanda
- No comment
INTEGRATING MENTAL HEALTH INTO MERL: A STRATEGIC APPROACH.
BIO OF THE PRESENTER
KAWEKWA DOUGLAS is a structural engineer and founder of MindLyfe Limited, a teletherapy organization committed to improving Mental Health access and reducing stigma in Uganda. With expertise in both engineering and counseling psychology, KAWEKWA DOUGLAS applies a data-driven approach to Mental Health interventions, ensuring measurable impact in schools, workplaces, correctional facilities, and communities. KAWEKWA DOUGLAS integrates Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) into Mental Health programs. Through MindLyfe Limited, they have led Mental Health assessments, psychoeducation programs, and corporate & community wellness initiatives, collaborating with organizations such as Makerere University, Uganda Prisons Service, Case Hospital, Asifiwe International Academy, Uzazi Hub Limited, Rotary Club of Kiwatule, Rotaract KTC among others. KAWEKWA DOUGLAS advocates for Mental Health inclusion in evaluation frameworks, equipping MERL professionals with tools to assess and enhance
mental well-being in development programs.
OVERVIEW:
Mental Health is a critical yet often overlooked factor in development programs. MindLyfe Limited, a leading teletherapy organization in Uganda, presents a session on integrating Mental Health into Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL). This session will equip UEA members with practical tools, evaluation frameworks, and insights to assess Mental Health interventions effectively and integrate Mental Health metrics into broader development initiatives.
KEY DISCUSSION POINTS:
Why Mental Health Matters in MERL
- Global and Ugandan context: Data and impact on social and economic development.
- The role of MERL in identifying Mental Health gaps and improving interventions.
Tools and Methodologies for Mental Health Evaluation - Key indicators: GHQ-12, PHQ-9, WHOQOL, resilience scores.
- Data collection approaches: Surveys, qualitative methods, AI-powered analytics.
- Evaluation frameworks: Theory of Change, cost-effectiveness analysis, impact measurement.
Case Studies: MindLyfe’s Initiatives - Schools: Mental Health training for teachers and students.
- Prisons: Teletherapy and Mental Health support for staff and inmates.
- Workplaces: Corporate Mental Health programs and outcome tracking.
Challenges, Opportunities, and Recommendations - Addressing stigma, cultural sensitivity, and funding constraints.
- Leveraging AI, cross-sector collaboration, and policy advocacy.
- Practical steps for UEA members to integrate Mental Health into their MERL work.
SESSION FORMAT: - Duration: 2 hours
- Presentation Style: Data-driven insights, case studies, interactive discussion
- Takeaways: ➢ Practical evaluation tools for Mental Health programs ➢Recommendations for embedding Mental Health into MERL frameworks ➢ Potential collaboration opportunities between MindLyfe and UEA.
The National Evaluation Talk scheduled for Thursday 27th February 2025 starting from 2:00PM- 4PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://ugandaevaluationassociation.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7bc06f5dfd8d0c986c41c05e2&id=0142ec761d&e=07eda217db
Meeting ID: 986 4672 4299
Passcode: 280029
