The HAPPINESS Project

The Health Action for Psychiatric Problems In Nigeria including Epilepsy and SubstanceS HAPPINESS Project is focused on increasing access to evidence-based treatments for mental, neurological and substance use disorders in Nigeria by adapting the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) Intervention Guide in primary care settings. It is a collaborative project supported by the Yale Global Mental Health Program, the local academic institutions and the local government agencies.

The HAPPINESS Project provides training, ongoing clinical support and refresher trainings for primary care teams in participating states.

Our team is open to further support and collaboration from all members of the Yale community including faculty, trainees and staff in the areas of training, research and funding.

The Project Lead is Theddeus Iheanacho, MD, please send an email to theddeus.iheanacho@yale.edu for more information or to get involved!

Thank you for your interest in our program. The goal of The HAPPINESS Project is to increase access to effective, evidence-based treatments for common mental disorders in underserved areas of Nigeria by training primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare workers to screen for, assess and manage these disorders in their communities with specialist support and supervision. Supervision, referral, consultation and clinical support are provided using telemedicine, mobile messaging, video conferencing technology and when feasible in-person site visits. To reduce stigma, a major barrier to accessing mental health care, the HAPPINESS intervention includes mental health awareness and anti-stigma campaign.

We have also initiated integration of mental health services into HIV clinics in Imo state, Nigeria using the HAPPINESS intervention, collaborative, task-sharing, stepped care approach.