Team leader : Dr. Schola Ashaba
Overview
This Grand Rounds session will focus on Parenting and adolescent Mental Health. This will be led by Dr. Schola Ashaba, a Senior lecturer at Mbarara University of Science and Technology Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Schola Ashaba is the Head of Psychiatry at Mbarara Regional Referral hospital.
Target Audience:
This session is intended for Medical students, psychiatrists, general practitioners, entire community and other healthcare professionals involved in Parenting and adolescent Mental Health.
Problem/ identified gap
Parenting in the modern era is more complex than ever, with rapidly shifting cultural norms, technological advancements, and the increasing demands of career development. As Ugandan parents strive to provide for their families, many struggle to balance work and child-rearing, often leaving adolescents vulnerable to emotional neglect, loneliness, and exposure to harmful digital influences. The rise of authoritarian, permissive, or uninvolved parenting—rather than a balanced, authoritative approach—has fueled growing cases of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal behaviors among adolescents.
Social media, while connecting young people, has also exacerbated cyberbullying, unrealistic comparisons, and identity confusion. Additionally, academic pressure, poverty, and exposure to violence create a breeding ground for conduct disorders, self-harm, and psychosis. Parents themselves are not spared—parental stress, burnout, and mental health struggles often trickle down, affecting the entire household’s well-being.
Recommendations
In our low-resource, multicultural setting, we must rethink parenting. We need policies that promote work-life balance, strengthen parental support systems, and integrate culturally sensitive mental health education. The time for change is now. Parents must be empowered with skills to nurture emotionally resilient adolescents while prioritizing their own mental well-being. Our nation’s future depends on this!
Learning Objectives/ Grand round purpose
• To equip medical students of MUST and the surrounding communities with awareness and knowledge about Parenting and adolescent Mental Health.
• To support medical students of MUST, develop an index of suspicion.
• To hopefully, contribute to early referral and diagnosis and improved outcomes.
Program Outline:
Moderator: Dr. Schola Ashaba
1. Case presentation: Dr. Majorie K. Mukisa
2. Parenting styles: Dr. Patricia Nankunda
3. Parenting in the Modern Era: Dr. Nicholas Mukiibi
4. Parenting and career development: Dr. Faith Nankunda
5. The Mental health consequences: Dr. Moses Muwanguzi
6. How best can we parent? Open discussion
7. Closing remarks: Dr. Scholastic Ashaba (HoD)
We encourage active participation during the Q&A session following the presentations.
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/92873317611?pwd=HiVt4aoUoaab7aBkAvgoaNn7V4BGhE.1
Meeting ID: 928 7331 7611
Passcode: 117198
