In February 2025, the UK-PHRST’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) team partnered with ARQ International, the World Health Organization and Intervention Journal to organise an academic writing training course for MHPSS experts.
Image credit: World Health Organization
The training taught participants to enhance their skills and understanding of academic writing. They engaged in theoretical presentations, interactive exercises and focused writing time, covering essential topics such as how to formulate a working title, pitch an academic idea, draft an outline, navigate academic publishing, use AI, and set writing goals. The training is being followed by ongoing mentorship of the participants, by linking them with experienced researchers, and providing several additional online capacity strengthening sessions.
Ultimately the training aims to help bridge the gap between MHPSS practice and research, ensuring that practitioners can use research writing as a powerful tool to amplify local voices and strengthen evidence-based practices within MHPSS.