The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute has selected two international researchers as 2025 Research Fellows. Nehjla Mashal, PhD, ABPP, from Jordan and Lola Kola, PhD, from Nigeria will lead projects designed to strengthen youth mental health services in their respective countries.
Both fellows received the award specifically to advance research and build capacity in regions where adolescent mental health care gaps remain significant. Their work will contribute to understanding and addressing mental health challenges among young people in underserved areas of the Middle East and Africa.
The fellowship represents part of a broader global effort to expand child and adolescent mental health resources beyond wealthy nations. Research consistently shows that low and middle-income countries face severe shortages in mental health professionals and evidence-based interventions for young people. The World Health Organization estimates that depression and anxiety disorders affect millions of adolescents worldwide, yet most don't receive adequate treatment.
For parents, this fellowship highlights a growing recognition that youth mental health expertise benefits from diverse perspectives and localized research. Solutions developed in Western countries don't always transfer effectively to different cultural contexts, healthcare systems, and resource levels. Mashal and Kola's work addresses this gap by rooting their research in their home countries' specific challenges and populations.
The SNF Global Center focuses on building sustainable mental health infrastructure for children and adolescents globally. By supporting researchers like Mashal and Kola, the initiative aims to develop culturally appropriate treatments and train local mental health professionals who understand their communities' unique needs.
For families seeking mental health support for teens, this work underscores the expanding international conversation about adolescent mental health. It also suggests that as research expands globally, parents may eventually benefit from intervention models tested and proven in diverse settings worldwide.
THE TAKEAWAY: International research partnerships are strengthening mental