Ddumba’s PhD to help senior citizens fight depression

__________________

Counselling psychologist Pius Ddumba Matovu, who has worked with many youth and elderly people from different walks of life, realised that many elderly people grapple with depression.

In 2022, Matovu decided to be part of the solution by enrolling for a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in geriatric mental health counselling which he has completed. He is expected to graduate on October 25, 2025, at Nkumba University. His thesis focuses on practical low-cost interventions for older persons above 60 years experiencing depressive symptoms.

He now looks at designing collaborative interventions with non-governmental organisations and academic institutions to improve the senior citizens’ family environment.  

Matovu points out that the elderly are regarded as a special population, yet some are treated like ‘prodigal children’ in their communities. He attributes this to the current changes in family systems which has led to abandonment. 

“Many older adults are financially constrained and others live alone with no one to interact with,” he says. 

Quoting (MoLGSD, 2020; Nawagi, 2022) Matovu says, the family environment seems to have failed to guarantee the elderly’s social protection, a situation that prompts urgent intervention.

During his research, Matovu also discovered that most curricula on psychology, social work, development studies, social development plus build environment are designed with a bias on the old.  The outcome is that the labour market lacks insights and skills about the real world of older clientele.

Challenges and how he overcame them

The PhD road has been bumpy for Matovu. Firstly, he embarked on this journey during the COVID 19 pandemic. While he was trying to juggle books, work and other responsibilities amidst the movement restrictions, hell broke loose in his family. In a span of one year, his parents died; one following the other. Matovu was devastated. He not only lost the two strong pillars in his life but also, they were part of the reason he pursued the PhD.

“I really wanted a graceful aging for my parents,” he says.

As he was still struggling to come to terms with the loss, financial constraints set in. He points out that; “Finances are central to doctoral studies at every step.” Matovu searched for funding in vain. However, as he was about to give up, a scholarship from Ruforum came his way under the graduate teaching assistantship. He also thanks his family for offering him all the moral support he needed to overcome the hardships.

A word to PhD aspirants

First develop a passion for your study area. Higher degrees require passionate reading and deep love for the population that draws your attention. It becomes complicated once you begin rationalizing a problem. You cannot be a master of what you are not sure about.  I recommend you first enroll into a light academic programme to refresh and also orient yourself into the exact discipline you want to have your doctoral thesis. For example, I had earlier identified myself with gerontology through personal readings, international and national conference proceedings and social talks.

But I felt inadequate to transcend academically. Therefore, I enrolled for a higher diploma in geriatrics and gerontology which grounded me into the real subject language and professionalism about mental health work with the elderly.

Matovu’s education background

Matovu started his education journey from St Charles Lwanga Kyotera primary from where he joined St Sebastian Secondary School Bethlehem for his O level and Kiteredde Secondary School for his A level. He holds a bachelor of philosophy and a master of science in counseling psychology among other training in geriatrics and gerontology, child protection and research.

Statistics

According to a medical related study by Nakasujja et al (2021) and community based study by Akena et al (2023), there is an unprecedented increase in the prevalence of depressive symptoms among the elderly from 22% to 32%.