In 2020-21, the IWG started a Memorandum of Understanding with EQUINET, the Regional Network on Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa, which is a network of professionals, civil society members, policy makers, state officials and others within the region who have come together as an equity catalyst, to promote and realize shared values of equity and social justice in health.

IWG Members Nadine Nanji and Joy Muhia have been representatives of the IWG in this partnership, and co-led a desk review on youth mental health in the context of COVID-19 pandemic in the East and South Africa. This desk review pulled from published information relating to youth mental health in east and southern Africa (ESA). It was implemented within and informs collaborative work on youth mental health in the region in EQUINET between Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC), the IWG, and the pra4equity and PAROnline network, specifically Country Minders for Peoples Development (CMPD), Malawi, and the Centre for Youth Driven Development Initiative (CFYDDI), Uganda.

The desk review explored patterns and determinants of youth mental health in the region; how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and responses to it have affected this; where youth seek and obtain support for mental health needs and the perceived challenges and gaps. It presents recommendations for improving the responses to mental health challenges.

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