Mental health care in the trenches of society: Lessons learned from research in India and South Sudan on community-based mental health practices in permanent and emergency situations

This thesis examines community mental health (CMH) systems in India and South Sudan, focusing on vulnerable populations facing poverty, conflict, and social exclusion. It argues for rights-based, community-driven approaches aligned with global and national frameworks to address gaps in institutional care. In India, studies show that traditional psychiatric systems fail to meet complex needs, especially for homeless women with mental illness. Community living models like Home Again demonstrate improved recovery, social participation, and autonomy, though challenges remain in workforce capacity and policy support. In South Sudan, research highlights urgent mental health needs in humanitarian settings. Task-sharing, primary care integration, and locally driven interventions—such as mhGAP—prove effective in reducing psychological distress despite limited resources. Overall, the thesis emphasizes that effective CMH systems require community participation, peer involvement, and supportive governance. It proposes scalable, locally grounded models combining social support, policy reform, and workforce development to deliver equitable mental health care in resource-constrained settings.