The Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation), in partnership with the Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN) at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and with support from Wellcome, today announced the Global Mental Health Africa Conference 2027 (#GMHAC2027), to be held in Nairobi from 8–10 February 2027. Under the theme "Together for Mental Health: African Leadership, Global Impact," the conference comes at a critical moment as Africa, and the world, confront widening gaps in access to mental health care.

With over one billion people globally living with mental health conditions, including approximately 332 million living with depression, the scale of the crisis is staggering. Suicide remains a leading cause of death among young people, and mental health spending in low-income countries remains critically low. This chronic underfunding means that the majority of people with mental, neurological, and substance use conditions do not receive the care they need, a gap that widens further in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The urgency for transformative action has never been greater.

"This conference will showcase African-led mental health research and innovation, highlighting locally driven solutions with relevance both regionally and globally," said Dr Tom Kariuki, CEO, SFA Foundation. "By convening diverse stakeholders, it will amplify African contributions to global mental health, foster South-to-South exchange, and strengthen connections between research, practice, and policy, building momentum for stronger mental health systems and greater investment across Africa."

With four thematic tracks, participants will engage with: expanding access to quality mental health care; leadership, power, and lived experience; policy, financing, and global advocacy; and innovations and frontiers in African mental health research. Together, these areas aim to advance culturally responsive systems, strengthen investment and policy reform, and accelerate locally led, evidence-driven solutions.

The programme will feature a range of scientific sessions alongside an innovation fair and opportunities to participate in site visits and training workshops.

"The Innovation Fair at #GMHAC2027 is an exciting opportunity to showcase and celebrate African-led mental health innovation," said Dr Petra Gronholm, Principal Investigator at MHIN and Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. "We're creating a space where innovators can share their work, build partnerships, and inspire action towards scalable, evidence-informed solutions accelerating the adoption of innovations that can transform mental health care across Africa and beyond."

"Mental health is not just a health concern but a societal one, embedded across all systems rather than confined to a silo," said Dr Evelyn Gitau, Chief Scientific Officer at SFA Foundation. "The four thematic tracks are not isolated silos but a unified ecosystem, connecting research and innovation to policy, financing, and lived experience, so solutions are embedded within systems that can deliver lasting change."

The Global Mental Health Africa Conference 2027 will position Africa not only as a site of research but as a driver of ideas, innovation, and global learning in mental health. It will convene early career researchers, innovators, policymakers, practitioners, advocates, and people with lived experience from across Africa and globally to shape the future of mental health systems.

Outcomes from the conference are expected to inform policy dialogues, strengthen regional and global partnerships, and support the scaling of evidence-based, locally led mental health solutions across the continent and beyond.

Get Involved

• Submit an Abstract: Share your research at #GMHAC2027. Submissions opened 20 June and will close 20 August 2026. Follow this link to submit
• Apply for the Innovation Fair: Showcase a scalable, evidence-based mental health innovation to decision-makers who can help take it further. Applications opened 20 May and close 20 July 2026. Apply for the Innovation Fair
• Apply for a Travel Fellowship: A limited number of travel fellowships are available for early career researchers, students, and persons with lived experience. Applications opened 20 June and close 31 August 2026. Apply for a Travel Fellowship
• Registration: Opening soon

Visit the event website for more information and updates.

Notes to Editors
 

About Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation)

The SFA Foundation is a pan-African, non-profit, and public charity organisation that supports, strengthens, and promotes science and innovation in Africa. The SFA Foundation serves the African research ecosystem by funding excellent ideas in research and innovation, enabling interdisciplinary collaborations, and building and reinforcing environments that are conducive for scientists to thrive and produce quality research that generates new, locally relevant knowledge.
 
About the Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN)

MHIN is a global community of mental health innovators hosted at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. The network supports the development, implementation, and scaling of innovative mental health programmes and policies, with a strong focus on meaningful engagement with lived experience communities and knowledge translation.

About Wellcome

Wellcome's vision is a healthier future for everyone. It supports discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and is taking on three urgent health challenges: mental health, infectious disease, and climate and health.