David Cappo presents at World Health Summit in Berlin

October 16, 2023: David Cappo, YouBelong’s co-founder and CEO presented “Innovations from the Global South to address the mental health treatment gap—a case study from Uganda” At the 2023 World Health Summit in Berlin.

The presentation addressed issues and factors in the mental health treatment gap in Africa and recommended new thinking and innovations that are low cost, sustainable, and easily integrated within existing health systems.

Using YouBelong’s work in Uganda as a case study, Cappo reviewed the organization’s model for community mental health care intervention — returning patients to their families and communities with appropriate training and supports in place. He discussed pre-and post- discharge planning, family empowerment, and the importance of the lived experience of persons with psychosis in research design, policy development and the implementation of mental health services.