Miss Maaike Seekles

Biography

Maaike Seekles is a social scientist with a background in health services research (PhD, University of Salford), international development (MSc, University of Ghent) and neuro- psychology (BSc & MSc, University of Utrecht).

She uses mixed-methods, community-based participatory research approaches to design and evaluate interventions focused on health systems strengthening and mental health/substance use prevention. In her role as postdoctoral associate, she currently co-leads the quantitative work package for the IMAGINE Ghana project, focused on integrating mental health and neglected tropical disease Interventions. Maaike has previously evaluated similar integrated, community-based mental health interventions for the Peace of Mind and REDRESS projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia respectively, findings of which informed the development of the World Health Organisation’s Essential Care Package for neglected tropical diseases, stigma and mental health conditions.

Maaike co-leads the quantitative work package for the SHINE project, a multi-country project that aims to strengthen health systems by addressing community health workers’ mental wellbeing and agency. She also led a mixed-method adolescent alcohol prevention intervention design project in Tanzania and was recently awarded two internal funds to explore adolescent mental health in Uganda and Liberia, using participatory, creative methods. She received a Director Catalyst Fund to complete a situation analysis of the mental health system in several schools in Liberia and adapt a Teacher Mental Health Promotion Manual developed by the World Health Organisation before national roll-out.

Research interests

Maaike’s main research interests are global mental health, health systems strengthening, mental health measurements, cultural responsiveness of interventions, community-based interventions, school-based mental health promotion, and participatory action research.

Teaching

Maaike supervises PhDs and MSc projects broadly related to community-based mental health interventions in low- and middle-income countries.

Selected research publications

Operationalising people-centred community-led self-help groups to improve mental health and wellbeing for people with skin-neglected tropical diseases : a case study from Kasai, DRC – Journal: Frontiers in Tropical Diseases – Published: 16th February 2026

Peace of Mind: a quasi-experimental, mixed-method evaluation of a community-based mental health intervention for persons affected by Neglected Tropical Diseases – Journal: PLOS Mental Health – Published: 4th September 2025

Prevalence of mental health conditions in post-conflict Kasai Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A repeated, cross-sectional study – Journal: PLOS Global Public Health – Published: 9th January 2025

The landscape and level of alcohol policy enforcement in Tanzania – Journal: PLOS Global Public Health – Published: 2nd December 2024

‘The Lost Peace’: Evidencing the Syndemic Relationship between Neglected Tropical Diseases and Mental Distress in Liberia – Journal: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease – Published: 17th August 2024

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