Designing mental health interventions informed by child development and human biology theory: A social ecology intervention for child soldiers in Nepal
Kohrt, B.A., Jordans, M.J.D., Koirala, S., Worthman, C.M.
American Journal of Human Biology
Published on: 7 November 2014
Abstract: The anthropological study of human biology, health, and child development provides a model with potential to address the gap in population-wide mental health interventions. Four key concepts from human biology can inform public mental health interventions: life history theory and trade-offs, redundancy and plurality of pathways, cascades and multiplier effects in biological systems, and proximate feedback systems. A public mental health intervention for former child soldiers in Nepal is used to illustrate the role of these concepts in intervention design and evaluation. Future directions and recommendations for applying human biology theory in pursuit of public mental health interventions are discussed.