Culture, Stigma, and Community: Rethinking Narratives + Lessons from MHDS
5th Edition - 2026 | Mental Health Dialogue Series
Event Details
About This Dialogue
Stigma doesn't exist in a vacuum — it is shaped by culture, reinforced by community, and sustained by the stories we tell (and the ones we silence). This fifth edition of the Mental Health Dialogue Series turns the lens inward, examining how cultural narratives around mental health are constructed, who they serve, and how they can be reimagined.
Drawing on lessons from the first four editions of the MHDS — from technology gaps to lived experience — this dialogue brings together two practitioners working at the intersection of mental health, community advocacy, and culturally grounded care. Together, we explore what it takes to move beyond awareness into action, and how communities across Africa and South Asia are reclaiming mental health narratives on their own terms.
Key Discussion Themes
- Cultural Narratives & Stigma: How cultural beliefs shape perceptions of mental illness — and how community-led approaches can dismantle harmful stereotypes without erasing cultural identity.
- Community-Rooted Mental Health: Lessons from grassroots interventions in Pakistan and Namibia that prioritize accessibility, cultural sensitivity, and local ownership.
- Maternal, Child & Adolescent Mental Health: The intersection of RMNCAH (Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health) and mental health — why mental health first aid must be integrated into community health systems.
- Rethinking Narratives: How evidence-based knowledge can replace myths, and how platforms like Wellness and Healing are normalizing mental health conversations in rural and vulnerable communities.
- Lessons from MHDS: Reflections on the first four editions of the Mental Health Dialogue Series — what we've learned, what's changed, and where the conversation goes next.
Who Should Attend
- Mental health practitioners, psychiatric nurses, and psychologists
- Public health advocates and community health workers
- RMNCAH, GBV, and SRHR professionals
- Researchers and students in psychology, nursing, and public health
- Policy makers and NGO professionals working in mental health
- General public interested in mental health advocacy and cultural perspectives
Panel Speakers & Host
Host
Archibong Owoisinke Victor
Public Health Expert, Mental Health Advocate, and Researcher
Speakers
Ms. Musarrat Rani
Gold Medalist in Psychiatric Nursing, RMNCAH Specialist & CEO, Irshad Amtul Reproductive Health and Midwifery Services (Pakistan)
Ms. Rani is a gold medalist in Psychiatric Nursing and a seasoned RMNCAH professional with over two decades of experience in mental health, maternal, child, and adolescent health. As CEO of Irshad Amtul Reproductive Health and Midwifery Services, she leads community-based health interventions across Pakistan. She serves as MNCH Specialist in multiple organizations, with expertise spanning mental health first aid, MNCAH & N, GBV, SRHR, and early child marriage prevention. She has developed culturally grounded manuals and pioneered eHealth solutions for MNCAH & N. Ms. Rani collaborates with WHO, ICM, UNFPA, and the Ministry of Health on national RMNCAH agendas.
Alex Gomachab
Student Psychologist, Founder of Wellness and Healing, Mental Health Advocate (Namibia)
Alex Gomachab is a Student Psychologist registered with the Health Professions Council of Namibia, working towards the goal of becoming a Behavioral Neuroscientist. He is the founder of the online mental health awareness platform Wellness and Healing, which aims to demystify stigma and debunk myths surrounding mental health by sharing evidence-based knowledge. With five years of experience in the mental health space, Alex has been actively working towards the normalization of mental health in rural and vulnerable communities by encouraging accessibility of services and care. He is currently conducting research on the impact of father absence on the psychosocial development and maladaptive behavior in emerging male adults.
Registration
FREE EVENT — Open to all practitioners, researchers, students, and advocates.
- Register at:
- Registration Fee: $0 (Free)
- Format: Live Dialogue with Interactive Q&A
About the Mental Health Dialogue Series
The Mental Health Dialogue Series is an initiative led by the Foresight Institute of Research and Translation (FIRAT) to bridge the gap between academic research and actionable, community-based solutions for mental health challenges across Africa and beyond. Each edition brings together practitioners, advocates, and researchers to examine mental health through a different lens — from technology and innovation to culture, stigma, and lived experience.
