Call for Contributions: Mental Health, Lived Experience, and Community Engagement in Tropical Diseases

Background

Tropical diseases, including neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), continue to disproportionately affect populations living in poverty and other structurally marginalized settings. While some progress has been achieved in biomedical prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, the broader psychosocial consequences of these diseases remain insufficiently addressed. Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and social distress are common among people affected by tropical diseases, yet are rarely integrated into routine care, research agendas, or elimination strategies.

This Research Topic aims to advance interdisciplinary scholarship at the intersection of tropical diseases, mental health, and community engagement. It brings together two closely connected themes: (1) the impact of tropical diseases on mental health, wellbeing, and social participation, and (2) the engagement and leadership of affected communities in addressing tropical diseases, not merely as beneficiaries, but as experts and co-creators of solutions.

By bringing together mental health, lived experience, and community leadership, this Research Topic aims to promote a paradigm shift in tropical disease research and practice. Integrating psychosocial wellbeing and recognising affected communities as leaders are not only matters of equity and human rights, but also critical for sustainable control, elimination, and post-elimination surveillance. We invite original research articles, reviews, opinions, perspectives and policy analyses that contribute to more inclusive, ethical, and effective responses to tropical diseases.

Deadline

16 November 2026 (manuscript extension submission deadline).

Note: Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.