Abstract: Journal of Complementary Research and Alternative Medicine

Abstract:
Psychological assessments in Africa face significant challenges due to the cultural mismatch between West ern-developed tools and the local contexts. Tools like the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory, while valuable in Western settings, are increasingly questioned for their applicability in Africa, as they overlook indigenous knowledge, community values, and spiritual dimensions essential for under standing mental health. This qualitative study revealed that community-based evaluations, narrative techniques, and holistic frameworks hold promise for addressing psychological issues. It was noted that capacity-building initiatives, policy reforms, and culturally sensitive educational curricula are crucial. The study also concluded that traditional Western tools often fail to capture the cultural and social realities of local communities, high lighting the need for context-specific assessment methods. Therefore, embracing indigenous knowledge and participatory approaches were seen as vital for equitable mental health care and sustainable mental health systems across Africa.