Digital storytelling within a community-based mental health improvement programme (ARCLIGHT) in Guyana

Over one billion people globally struggle with mental ill-health, including depression, and self-harm. Mental ill-health is prevalent in lower income nations, where lack of research in implementation and policy change is further impeded by stigma and fragmented service delivery. This British Academy funded project (ARCLIGHT) developed from a ‘pre-bid stage’ in partnership with key Guyanese stakeholders. The project was a participatory action research study (PAR) across three differing Guyanese communities. Its objective was to co-create a community-based mental health improvement programme. A key component included supporting participants recording their digital stories of successful practices using mobile phones linked to local Wi-Fi systems. The study contributed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of improving wellbeing and health, enhancing gender equality, and reducing social and economic inequalities and meeting the World Health Organisation’s strategic priorities for Guyana regarding mental health and violence. This interdisciplinary project considered the cultural, professional, and political barriers to mental health recovery, provided new conceptual understandings and policy-relevant evidence that addressed the global challenge of mental health, in multi-ethnic and resource-poor countries. Our collaborative approach, underpinned by PAR, encouraged behavioural change, economic independence, and enhanced local services provision.