New research led by , junior scientist in the , is helping to address a major gap in evidence on early childhood mental health in low- and middle-income settings. The population-based work focuses on peri-urban communities in southern Ghana and draws on data from more than 700 households with children aged 6 to 60 months. It identifies a high prevalence of socioemotional mental health difficulties, with nearly half of young children found to be at elevated risk across multiple areas of early development, including emotional regulation, communication and social interaction.
The findings are reported across three linked articles published in , and . Together, these articles combine population-based evidence with community consultations and policy-focused analysis and highlight parental well-being as an important protective factor.
Parental mental health: a protective factor
Beyond documenting the scale of need, the research highlights the central role of parental well-being in shaping early childhood mental health. Children whose mothers reported higher levels of positive mental health — reflecting emotional, psychological and social well-being — showed significantly fewer socioemotional difficulties. Among girls, paternal positive mental health and the use of positive disciplinary strategies by mothers were also associated with better outcomes.
These findings, published in , suggest that strengthening parental well-being and supportive caregiving practices may offer important opportunities to promote mental health early in life.
Community perspectives to inform intervention design
The population-based findings were complemented by qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with more than 80 mothers, fathers, non-parental caregivers and community elders in the same communities. Participants described how they currently support their children’s development, the challenges they face in maintaining their own mental health, and the barriers and facilitators to engaging in positive caregiving practices.
These conversations underscored the need for accessible, community-based supports that address parental mental health alongside parenting practices, providing important context for translating the research evidence into practical interventions. Findings from this qualitative work have been published in .
From evidence to action
To support real-world impact, Prof. Ahun and collaborators held two community events with study participants and health workers to discuss study findings and their implications for local services to support parental and child well-being. A dissemination workshop was also held with policymakers and other stakeholders to reflect on the implications of the findings and explore how systems and services can more effectively support children’s mental health and family well-being. Insights from these discussions informed a call to action published in , outlining priority steps to strengthen child mental health systems.
The recommendations emphasize integrating early childhood mental health screening into primary health care, expanding access to maternal mental health services, and developing culturally informed, family-based interventions. Dissemination activities and policy dialogues were covered by local and national media in Ghana and funded by a CIHR planning and dissemination grant.
Looking ahead
Together, the results of this research will guide the development of a multi-component intervention aimed at improving early childhood mental health in Ghana. Future work, supported by Prof. Ahun’s Jacobs CIFAR Research Fellowship (2026–2028), will continue to emphasize collaboration with local communities, clinicians and policymakers.
About the publications
The publication “” was written by Marilyn N. Ahun, Josie Brooks, David Djani Kotey, Ramanakumar V. Agnihotram and Richard Appiah. It was published in BMJ Global Health, 11, e018658 (2026).
DOI:
The publication “” was written by Faiza Abdul, Kafui K. Dzorgbesi, Shirley-Anne Lutterodt, David Djani Kotey, Richard Appiah and Marilyn N. Ahun. It was published in PLOS Global Public Health on February 3, 2026. DOI:
The publication “” was written by Marilyn N. Ahun, Richmond Acquah-Coleman, Seth Adu-Afarwuah, Richard Appiah and colleagues. It was published in The Lancet Regional Health – Africa, 100010 (2026). DOI:
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