Policy Brief: Strengthening Adolescent Well-Being: A Call for Integrated Mental Health and Sexual Reproductive Health Policies in East and Southern Africa

Abstract

This policy brief makes the case for integrating mental health and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) policies to better serve adolescents and young people across East and Southern Africa. Produced jointly by the African Population and Health Research Center and the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative, the brief draws on a review of existing youth-focused SRHR and mental health policy frameworks in the region, finding that the two domains remain largely siloed despite substantial evidence of their interdependence. It argues that adolescents' mental wellbeing directly shapes their sexual and reproductive health outcomes and vice versa, and that policies addressing one domain in isolation are unlikely to fully meet young people's needs. The brief calls on governments and regional bodies across East and Southern Africa to harmonize mental health and psychosocial support with SRHR policy and programming, and outlines concrete recommendations for policymakers to strengthen adolescent wellbeing through more integrated, coordinated approaches to health policy and service delivery.