Understanding Emerging Adults’ Perspectives on Mental Health in Togo

Abstract

Mental health worldwide is extremely important to address; unfortunately, many aspects of mental health are not visibly known or treated in the world. Moreover, some developmental groups are more affected than others; in fact, emerging adulthood is a crucial developmental phase that is prone to depression. With most mental health conditions beginning before the age of 24 and depression as the leading cause of disability globally, this study sought to identify emerging adults’ understanding of depression, a common disease among this population. A qualitative study was used to understand depression during emerging adulthood in Togo. There were 35 participants recruited for this study. With the growing younger population in Sub-Saharan Africa projected to double in a decade and the dearth of studies in the mental health field on the continent, this study serves as a foundation for research into emerging adults’ mental health. Like most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the inexistence of a stand-alone mental health program, the shortage of qualified mental health professionals, and insufficient civil society education on mental health problems remain the fundamental barriers to accessible care in Togo. As the study indicated, there are many ways to provide new opportunities for emerging adults to self-educate about mental health. By increasing our understanding of depression among emerging adults, the findings of this research study offer valuable data as a foundation not only for future studies, but also for mental health policy development and targeted programming for emerging adults in Sub-Saharan Africa and Togo in particular.