Co-creating youth-friendly mental health solutions in Africa

9 February 2026 -

Our unit's AfriCAT project, which aims to develop a powerful adaptive mental health assessment tool.

In January 2025, the Aga Khan University's Brain & Mind Institute (BMI) hosted a series of youth workshops in Nairobi as part of the AfriCAT (African Computerised Adaptive Test) project. The workshops brought together young people aged 12–24 to share their experiences and ideas on what a youth-friendly mental health assessment tool should look like.

Led in Nairobi by Dr Mary Bitta and implemented by BMI's research team in partnership with the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, the sessions focused on listening to young people and involving them directly in the design of the tool.

Across Kenya, South Africa, and many other African countries, young people experience high levels of anxiety and depression. Yet many are never diagnosed, or receive support too late. One reason is that existing mental health assessment tools can be long, complex, and difficult to use in busy health settings.

AfriCAT aims to change this. The tool is being developed as a short, digital questionnaire that is easy to use, culturally relevant, and designed for young people.

“Many young people in low- and middle-income countries continue to go undiagnosed and untreated for mental health conditions," said Dr Mary Bitta.

“Involving young people in the design process helps ensure that AfriCAT reflects their real experiences and responds to their actual needs. Our goal is to create a tool that is quick, accurate and practical, while remaining grounded in young people's everyday lives."

During the workshops, participants shared their personal experiences with mental health, discussed what would make a digital tool feel safe and engaging, and pointed out potential barriers that might discourage young people from using it. Their feedback is helping ensure the tool feels relevant, respectful, and easy to complete.

AfriCAT works by asking only a small number of carefully selected questions, just enough to indicate whether someone may be experiencing mental health challenges. The test takes about three to five minutes to complete and is based on data collected in Kenya, making it well suited to local contexts.

Constance Mabia, the study's Lived Experience Lead and Youth Liaison in Kenya, highlighted the importance of creating safe spaces for young people to participate.

“Young people are more likely to speak openly about their mental health when they feel listened to and respected," she said. “Meaningful participation means more than being consulted, it means giving young people a real voice and valuing their lived experiences. When this happens, young people feel empowered and proud to contribute to solutions that can make a lasting difference."

The AfriCAT study is taking place in two stages. In the first, young people shared their views on mental health and helped shape the initial version of the tool. In the second stage, they will test the early version, provide feedback on how it works, and help refine it further.

By placing young people at the centre of the design process, the AfriCAT project is not only improving how mental health challenges can be identified, but also demonstrating the value of locally developed, youth-led digital solutions.?

Co-creating youth-friendly mental health solutions in Africa

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