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Based on experiences in Malawi, the authors explore three prominent interventions (practical support, counselling and support groups) employed by village health workers within a mental health task-shifting initiative and reveal how the ancient philosophy of <jats:italic>Umunthu<\/jats:italic> with its values of interconnectedness, inclusion and inter-relationships informs and shapes the direction of these interventions. Practical support is marshalled through traditional village structures, counselling provides advice and an encouragement to hope, and support groups provide a place for emotional exchange and a forum for the enactment of values, reflection and reinforcement of <jats:italic>Umunthu<\/jats:italic>. What are pronounced as biomedical psychosocial interventions are in fact the delivery of culturally embedded therapeutic approaches. Historical and socio-political evidence is offered to explain the dominance of biomedical perspectives and the HSAs\u2019 responses and a call is made for a transformation of MGMH to embrace rich philosophies such as <jats:italic>Umunthu<\/jats:italic> and enact respectful, inclusive and democratic values to enlist collaborations between equals to develop relevant and effective knowledge and local responses to mental distress.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s11013-020-09692-4","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,19]],"date-time":"2020-11-19T12:04:11Z","timestamp":1605787451000},"page":"613-628","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":16,"title":["\u201cWe Need Other Human Beings in Order to be Human\u201d: Examining the Indigenous Philosophy of Umunthu and Strengthening Mental Health Interventions"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"45","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9740-0534","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jerome","family":"Wright","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Janaka","family":"Jayawickrama","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"9692_CR1","volume-title":"Practical uMunthu Psychology: An Indigenous Approach to Harmonious Living","author":"C. 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