This November, HealthRight International’s research on integrated mental health and substance use interventionswas published in the Cambridge University Press. As part of our commitment to global mental health, the study explores scalable solutions for refugees facing psychological distress and alcohol use disorders (AUDs).

Through the Peter C. Alderman Mental Health Program, HealthRight has been strengthening mental health support for children, pregnant women, and refugee communities in Uganda since 2015. Among South Sudanese refugee men in northern Uganda, AUDs affect 17% of the population, often linked to trauma and conflict-related stress.

The study, conducted in Rhino Settlement, tested the feasibility of combining two interventions:
– ASSIST – A tool to reduce harmful alcohol use.
– Self-Help Plus (SH+) – A guided self-help approach to improve mental well-being.

Among 168 South Sudanese men, results showed high engagement and improvements in mental health and substance use outcomes, demonstrating the potential scalability of this cost-effective intervention in humanitarian settings.

🔗 Read the full study here: Cambridge University Press
🔗 Learn more about our mental health programs: HealthRight Global Mental Health