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Global network challenges child marriage to protect children鈥檚 mental health
A global network coordinated by the UCL Institute for Global Health is shining a light on child marriage and how it affects young people鈥檚 mental health, to help to manage the impacts of the practice.
7 October 2020
Child marriage is a global issue that听extends听beyond country borders, cultures and religion.听 It affects 14 million children every year, one-fifth of them boys.听
UCL鈥檚 cross-disciplinary Institute for Global Health (IGH) is home to the Global Network on Mental Health and Child Marriage, which works with partners across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas to reduce the burden of forced and child marriage on mental health by improving policy, research and advocacy.听
鈥淒espite most countries听recognising听that early and forced marriage can have serious听health consequences for the individuals concerned, mental health rarely makes it to any list, and if it does, responses and supports are lacking,鈥� explains听Dr听Rochelle Burgess (UCL IGH), who is leading the project.听听
The network is spearheading two听studies in this area. The first, will identify priorities for addressing the mental health needs of people married young, including boys, working with experts, including women who have听had first-hand听experience听of听the practice.听听
in a听second project,听Dr听Burgess听is听working with the听Rozaria听Memorial Trust and Women's University in Africa听to听map the impacts of child marriage within family and community networks in Zimbabwe, where 1 in 3 are married before the age of 18. They will develop community-led听solutions to child marriage and its mental health consequences.听听
鈥淥ur work aims to increase awareness听of听the prevalence of听child marriage听and the mental health needs of those affected,鈥澨鼶r Burgess says.听听
In some poorer communities in Nepal, up to 85% of girls are married before they are 19 years old.听The听government听there听recognises听the problem听and yet听the custom,听ingrained over generations,听continues.听
In another strand of the network鈥檚听research,听Dr听Delan听Devakumar (UCL Institute听for Global听Health) collaborated with local partners听in听Nepal听to produce and implement a public听engagement project听to help tackle the issue.听Working with听a local filmmaker, the team produced a documentary telling the stories of couples who were married young and how child marriage affected their lives physically and psychologically.听听
The film, accompanied by facilitated discussions, has reached听more than听1,800 people living in听village communities in the rural plains of Nepal where child marriage is common.听
鈥淭hrough this engagement process we have听catalysed听discussion and听are听taking positive steps towards reducing听child marriage in Nepal,鈥澨齟xplains听Dr听Devakumar.听