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Pallikkuth R, Kumar TM, Dictus CT, Bunders JFG. Empowerment of Lay Mental Health Workers and Junior Psychologists Online in a Task-Shared, Rural Setting in Kerala, India. Int J Health Policy Manag 2024; 13:7566. [PMID: 39099511 PMCID: PMC11270621 DOI: 10.34172/ijhpm.2024.7566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with severe mental health issues who live in isolated rural areas are difficult to reach and treat. Providing effective treatment is difficult because mental health problems are complex and require specialized knowledge from a range of professionals. Task-sharing with lay mental health workers (LMHWs) has potential but requires proper training and supervision to be effective. This article reports on the challenges and facilitators experienced in empowering LMHWs in their role, with the help of a technology supported supervision group. The study sought to understand the functioning of the Empowering Supervisory Group (ESG) in the context of junior psychologists and LMHWs in rural India, and investigate how they experienced it by exploring challenges, lessons and empowerment. METHODS Qualitative analysis of interviews with the 22 ESG participants and their supervisors. RESULTS A total of three discrete phases of supervision were identified where supervisors responded to the changing needs of the group. This began with building trust at a baseline level, tackling issues with competence and autonomy and finally experiencing meaning and impact through self-determination. The experience of empowerment even in an online setting was very beneficial given the challenges of working in rural areas. CONCLUSION Empowerment based supervision of LMHWs and junior psychologists online enables a level of engagement that positions them to engage in community mental health practices with greater independence and confidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rekha Pallikkuth
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Mental Health Action Trust, Calicut, India
- Athena Institute, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - T. Manoj Kumar
- Athena Institute, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Mental Health Action Trust, Calicut, India
| | - Claudia T. Dictus
- Athena Institute, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Nichols C. Equity and empowerment effects: Multiple styles of 'voluntarism' in community-based health projects. WORLD DEVELOPMENT 2024; 174:106448. [PMID: 38304852 PMCID: PMC10753287 DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2023.106448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Community health workers (CHW) are individuals with no formal health training who perform various roles to address health disparities. There are long-sustained debates over how different forms of incentives shape CHW programs, which are often staffed with volunteer or minimally remunerated women. These debates are complicated by the diversity of CHW roles and contexts in which they work. Evidence is particularly scant around "change-agent" style CHWs, who shape health knowledge and norms within their community. This paper addresses this gap through an analysis of a change agent-staffed program that provided nutrition participatory education through women's groups in three eastern Indian sites. We examine how contextual factors across sites shaped change-agent management, and analyze the implications of each approach for efficacy, empowerment, and equity. Analyzing 68 interviews and 10 focus groups this study advances a typology of 'varieties' of voluntarism that we name laissez faire, active-cultivation, and honorarium-accountability, and uses comparative analysis to examine the equity and empowerment effects within selection, management, and payment. First, we find tensions in the community-based selection of volunteers because rather than selecting highly motivated women, groups selected women in the most favorable socioeconomic position to volunteer. Second, there is a tension around responsibility and expectations in that greater training and responsibility leads women to see more psychosocial empowerment (e.g., knowledge, confidence), but also may create more 'costs' to participation and leads to wider economic inequities in change-agent ranks. Third, we observe a misplaced focus on payments as central to change-agent motivation. While the two volunteer-only sites see payment as 'the answer' to motivation problems, the honorarium site sees payments as 'the problem' because they attract less intrinsically motivated individuals. We conclude that while payments may not make an unmotivated volunteer into a motivated one, this analysis suggests payments would potentially allow more marginalized women to participate, which may be key to making more equitable and efficacious impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Nichols
- Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, University of Iowa, 312 Jessup Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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Iyer K, Gupta P, Sapre S, Pawar T, Gala P, Kapoor H, Kalahasthi R, Ticku A, Kulkarni S, Iyer P. Mental health resources, barriers, and intervention needs among women in rural Maharashtra, India: A qualitative study. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2023; 10:e93. [PMID: 38179465 PMCID: PMC10765017 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2023.78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
This research paper focuses on the mental health needs, the need for mental health interventions and barriers in mental healthcare of women living in rural Maharashtra, India. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study has collected data from a sample of women living in the rural areas of Maharashtra through in-depth interviews. The data collected has been analyzed to identify the barriers and obstacles in mental healthcare, how the existing community support serves as a resource as well as the desire for potential mental healthcare interventions among participants. The findings of the study are expected to contribute to the development of effective mental health interventions tailored to the specific needs of women living in the rural areas of Maharashtra. Overall, this research paper aims to improve the understanding of the mental health needs of women in rural Maharashtra and provide insights for policymakers and mental health practitioners to develop effective interventions to promote their mental well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pooja Gupta
- National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Poorvi Iyer
- London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
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Chukwuorji JC, Ezeonu NA, Ude N, Itanyi IU, Eboreime E, Kung JY, Dennett L, Olawepo JO, Iheanacho T, Ogidi AG, Rositch AF, Nonyane BAS, Bass J, Ojo TM, Ikpeazu A, Ezeanolue EE. Addressing the unmet mental health needs of people living with HIV: a scoping review of interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS Care 2023; 35:1677-1690. [PMID: 36803172 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2023.2176428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Some mental health interventions have addressed mental health among people living with HIV (PLWH) using a variety of approaches, but little is known about the details of such interventions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a region that bears the largest burden of HIV in the world. The present study describes mental health interventions for PLWH in SSA regardless of the date and language of publication. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) reporting guidelines, we identified 54 peer-reviewed articles on interventions addressing adverse mental health conditions among PLWH in SSA. The studies were conducted in 11 different countries, with the highest number of studies in South Africa (33.3%), Uganda (18.5%), Kenya (9.26%), and Nigeria (7.41%). While only one study was conducted before the year 2000, there was a gradual increase in the number of studies in the subsequent years. The studies were mostly conducted in hospital settings (55.5%), were non-pharmacologic (88.9%), and interventions were mostly cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling. Task shifting was the primary implementation strategy used in four studies. Interventions addressing the mental health needs of PLWH that incorporates the unique challenges and opportunities in SSA is highly recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- JohnBosco Chika Chukwuorji
- Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria
- Center for Translation and Implementation Research (CTAIR), College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Nwamaka Alexandra Ezeonu
- Center for Translation and Implementation Research (CTAIR), College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Nnamdi Ude
- Center for Translation and Implementation Research (CTAIR), College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria
- Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Ijeoma Uchenna Itanyi
- Center for Translation and Implementation Research (CTAIR), College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria
- Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria
- Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Ejemai Eboreime
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Janice Y Kung
- J. W. Scott Library, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Liz Dennett
- J. W. Scott Library, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | | | - Theddeus Iheanacho
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Amaka G Ogidi
- Center for Translation and Implementation Research (CTAIR), College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Anne F Rositch
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bareng Aletta Sanny Nonyane
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Judy Bass
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tunde Masseyferguson Ojo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
- Department of Mental Health, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, FCT Abuja, Nigeria
- National Mental Health Programme, Department of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Akudo Ikpeazu
- National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Echezona E Ezeanolue
- Center for Translation and Implementation Research (CTAIR), College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria
- Healthy Sunrise Foundation, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
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Kokorelias KM, Singh HK, Abdelhalim R, Saragosa M, Fat GL, Sheppard C. Exploring the roles and functions of champions within community-based interventions to support older adults with chronic conditions: A scoping review protocol. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291252. [PMID: 37831680 PMCID: PMC10575514 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health care solutions are needed to meet the need of an ageing population. Health care champions are people who endorse the adoption of new initiatives being implemented within health care settings. Although the role of champions has been cited as key to the success of numerous community-based interventions implemented to improve the care of older adults with chronic conditions, no synthesis of their implementation experiences have been conducted. We report on a scoping review protocol that will be applied to collect evidence on the role of champions within community-based health interventions to support older adults with chronic conditions. Specifically, we will identify how the term 'champion' is used and defined (i.e., conceptualized) and identify the roles (i.e., professional background) and functions of champions (i.e., responsibilities). We will also explore how this role impacts program implementation. METHODS This is a scoping review protocol informed by guidelines for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and a six-stage scoping review methodology. Peer-review literature will be retrieved from Medline, CINAHL, PubMed, PsycInfo, Cochrane JBI and Scopus databases, using a peer-reviewed search strategy developed in collaboration with an Information Specialist. The scoping review will consider all empirical studies published in English. Two reviewers will pilot-test the screening criteria and data abstraction forms, and then independently screen the literature. Extracted data will be analyzed numerically and thematically. Self-identified champions will be consulted to refine the practice recommendations from this work. DISCUSSION This scoping review will broadly and systematically identify, define and expand existing knowledge on champions' impact in implementing community-based interventions to support older adults with chronic conditions. We anticipate that our results will lead to a greater understanding of the characteristics and role champions play within these interventions, which will be relevant to a wide range of knowledge users, including researchers, decision-makers, and health care providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M. Kokorelias
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Sinai Health System and University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- National Institute on Ageing, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hardeep K. Singh
- Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- KITE Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Reham Abdelhalim
- Joseph Brant Hospital, Burlington, Canada
- Burlington OHT, Burlington, ON, Canada
| | - Marianne Saragosa
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Guillaume Lim Fat
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Sinai Health System and University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christine Sheppard
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Park S, Cubillos L, Martinez-Camblor P, Bartels SM, Torrey WC, John DT, Cepeda M, Bell K, Castro S, Suárez-Obando F, Uribe-Restrepo JM, Gómez-Restrepo C, Marsch LA. Integrating Depression and Alcohol Use Care Into Primary Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Meta-Analysis. Psychiatr Serv 2023; 74:950-962. [PMID: 36852551 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.20220267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Evaluation of the effectiveness of integration of depression and alcohol use disorder care into primary health care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is limited. The authors aimed to quantify the effectiveness of integrating mental health care into primary care by examining depression and alcohol use disorder outcomes. The study updates a previous systematic review summarizing research on care integration in LMICs. METHODS Following PRISMA guidelines, the authors included studies from the previous review and studies published from 2017 to 2020 that included adults with alcohol use disorder or depression. Studies were evaluated for type of integration model with the typology developed previously. A meta-analysis using a random-effects model to assess effectiveness of integrated interventions was conducted. Meta-regression analyses to examine the impact of study characteristics on depression and alcohol use disorder outcomes were conducted. RESULTS In total, 49 new articles were identified, and 74 articles from the previous and current studies met inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. Overall random effect sizes were 0.28 (95% CI=0.22-0.35) and 0.17 (95% CI=0.11-0.24) for studies targeting care integration for depression or for alcohol use disorder, respectively, into primary care in LMICs. High heterogeneity within and among studies was observed. No significant association was found between country income level and depression and alcohol use outcomes. However, differences in effect sizes between types of integration model were statistically significant (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Integration of mental health care into primary health care in LMICs was found to improve depression and alcohol use disorder outcomes. This evidence should be considered when designing interventions to improve mental health screening and treatment in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sena Park
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health (Park, Cubillos, Bartels, Torrey, John, Bell, Marsch), Department of Anesthesiology (Martinez-Camblor), Department of Psychiatry (Torrey, Marsch), Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Cepeda, Gómez-Restrepo), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health (Castro, Suárez-Obando, Uribe-Restrepo, Gómez-Restrepo), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Leonardo Cubillos
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health (Park, Cubillos, Bartels, Torrey, John, Bell, Marsch), Department of Anesthesiology (Martinez-Camblor), Department of Psychiatry (Torrey, Marsch), Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Cepeda, Gómez-Restrepo), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health (Castro, Suárez-Obando, Uribe-Restrepo, Gómez-Restrepo), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Pablo Martinez-Camblor
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health (Park, Cubillos, Bartels, Torrey, John, Bell, Marsch), Department of Anesthesiology (Martinez-Camblor), Department of Psychiatry (Torrey, Marsch), Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Cepeda, Gómez-Restrepo), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health (Castro, Suárez-Obando, Uribe-Restrepo, Gómez-Restrepo), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sophia M Bartels
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health (Park, Cubillos, Bartels, Torrey, John, Bell, Marsch), Department of Anesthesiology (Martinez-Camblor), Department of Psychiatry (Torrey, Marsch), Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Cepeda, Gómez-Restrepo), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health (Castro, Suárez-Obando, Uribe-Restrepo, Gómez-Restrepo), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - William C Torrey
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health (Park, Cubillos, Bartels, Torrey, John, Bell, Marsch), Department of Anesthesiology (Martinez-Camblor), Department of Psychiatry (Torrey, Marsch), Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Cepeda, Gómez-Restrepo), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health (Castro, Suárez-Obando, Uribe-Restrepo, Gómez-Restrepo), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Deepak T John
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health (Park, Cubillos, Bartels, Torrey, John, Bell, Marsch), Department of Anesthesiology (Martinez-Camblor), Department of Psychiatry (Torrey, Marsch), Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Cepeda, Gómez-Restrepo), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health (Castro, Suárez-Obando, Uribe-Restrepo, Gómez-Restrepo), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Magda Cepeda
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health (Park, Cubillos, Bartels, Torrey, John, Bell, Marsch), Department of Anesthesiology (Martinez-Camblor), Department of Psychiatry (Torrey, Marsch), Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Cepeda, Gómez-Restrepo), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health (Castro, Suárez-Obando, Uribe-Restrepo, Gómez-Restrepo), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Kathleen Bell
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health (Park, Cubillos, Bartels, Torrey, John, Bell, Marsch), Department of Anesthesiology (Martinez-Camblor), Department of Psychiatry (Torrey, Marsch), Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Cepeda, Gómez-Restrepo), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health (Castro, Suárez-Obando, Uribe-Restrepo, Gómez-Restrepo), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sergio Castro
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health (Park, Cubillos, Bartels, Torrey, John, Bell, Marsch), Department of Anesthesiology (Martinez-Camblor), Department of Psychiatry (Torrey, Marsch), Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Cepeda, Gómez-Restrepo), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health (Castro, Suárez-Obando, Uribe-Restrepo, Gómez-Restrepo), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Fernando Suárez-Obando
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health (Park, Cubillos, Bartels, Torrey, John, Bell, Marsch), Department of Anesthesiology (Martinez-Camblor), Department of Psychiatry (Torrey, Marsch), Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Cepeda, Gómez-Restrepo), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health (Castro, Suárez-Obando, Uribe-Restrepo, Gómez-Restrepo), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - José Miguel Uribe-Restrepo
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health (Park, Cubillos, Bartels, Torrey, John, Bell, Marsch), Department of Anesthesiology (Martinez-Camblor), Department of Psychiatry (Torrey, Marsch), Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Cepeda, Gómez-Restrepo), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health (Castro, Suárez-Obando, Uribe-Restrepo, Gómez-Restrepo), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carlos Gómez-Restrepo
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health (Park, Cubillos, Bartels, Torrey, John, Bell, Marsch), Department of Anesthesiology (Martinez-Camblor), Department of Psychiatry (Torrey, Marsch), Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Cepeda, Gómez-Restrepo), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health (Castro, Suárez-Obando, Uribe-Restrepo, Gómez-Restrepo), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Lisa A Marsch
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health (Park, Cubillos, Bartels, Torrey, John, Bell, Marsch), Department of Anesthesiology (Martinez-Camblor), Department of Psychiatry (Torrey, Marsch), Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Cepeda, Gómez-Restrepo), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health (Castro, Suárez-Obando, Uribe-Restrepo, Gómez-Restrepo), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
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Noble E, Adenikinju D, Ruan C, Zuniga S, Thakkar D, Malburg CM, Gyamfi J, Ojo T, Islam F, Diawara A, Dike L, Chukwu C, Tampubolon S, Peprah E. A Review of the COVID-19 Mental Health Impact in Post-Conflict Settings: Bridging the Mental Health Gap with Case Exemplars from an Implementation Science Lens. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6006. [PMID: 37297610 PMCID: PMC10252255 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20116006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated the burden of mental health and presents an opportunity for public health research to focus on evidence-based interventions appropriate for populations residing in resource-constrained, post-conflict settings. Post-conflict settings have a higher service gap in mental health and fewer protective factors, such as economic and domestic security. Post-conflict settings are defined as locations where open warfare has ended but resulting challenges have remained for years. A strong emphasis on the engagement of diverse stakeholders is needed to arrive at sustainable and scalable solutions to mental health service delivery. This review discusses mental health service delivery gaps in post-conflict settings, highlights the urgency of the matter in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides recommendations for service gaps from evidence-based case study exemplars with an implementation science lens using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) as guide to improving adaptation and uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Noble
- Global Health Program, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Deborah Adenikinju
- Global Health Program, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Christina Ruan
- Global Health Program, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Sophia Zuniga
- Global Health Program, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Diksha Thakkar
- Global Health Program, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Carly M. Malburg
- Global Health Program, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Joyce Gyamfi
- Global Health Program, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Temitope Ojo
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Farha Islam
- Global Health Program, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Amy Diawara
- Global Health Program, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Lotanna Dike
- Global Health Program, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Chinenye Chukwu
- Global Health Program, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Siphra Tampubolon
- Global Health Program, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Emmanuel Peprah
- Global Health Program, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY 10003, USA
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8
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Kaar JL, Bowen AE, Simon SL, Dadematthews A, Chandrasekhar JL, Musci R, Pangelinan M. A call to create evidence-based mental health promotion interventions for youth that are equitable across ethnic/racial subgroups: Advocates 4-ALL Youth. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1139921. [PMID: 37151585 PMCID: PMC10160640 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1139921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Adolescents from historically racial and ethnic minoritized and low-income communities have higher rates of early-life and chronic difficulties with anxiety and depression compared to non-Hispanic White youth. With mental health distress exacerbated during and in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need for accessible, equitable evidence-based programs that promote psychological well-being, strengthen one's ability to adapt to adversity, and build self-efficacy prior to adolescence. Methods An evidenced-based resiliency-focused health coaching intervention was adapted using a health equity implementation framework to meet the needs of a Title I elementary school in rural Alabama (AL) that serves over 80% Black and Hispanic students. To ensure that the program met local community needs while maintaining core program educational activities, all adaptations were documented utilizing a standard coding system. Results Leveraging an existing academic-community partnership with Auburn University and a local AL school district, a new program, Advocates 4-All Youth (ALLY), was created. Three major adaptations were required: (1) the use of local community volunteers (ALLYs) to deliver the program versus health coaches, (2) the modification of program materials to meet the challenge of varying levels of general and health-related literacy, and (3) the integration of the Empower Action Model to target protective factors in a culturally-tailored delivery to ensure key program outcomes are found equitable for all students. Conclusion With continued increases in youth mental health distress, there is a need for the development of universal primary prevention interventions to promote mental well-being and to strengthen protective factors among youth from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. ALLY was created to meet these needs and may be an effective strategy if deemed efficacious in improving program outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill L. Kaar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- *Correspondence: Jill L. Kaar,
| | - Anne E. Bowen
- Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Stacey L. Simon
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | | | | | - Rashelle Musci
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Siddiqui S, Morris A, Ikeda DJ, Balsari S, Blanke L, Pearsall M, Rodriguez R, Saxena S, Miller BF, Patel V, Naslund JA. Scaling up community-delivered mental health support and care: A landscape analysis. Front Public Health 2022; 10:992222. [PMID: 36568763 PMCID: PMC9773996 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.992222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The mental health crisis has caused widespread suffering and has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Marginalized groups are especially affected, with many concerns rooted in social determinants of mental health. To stem this tide of suffering, consideration of approaches outside the traditional biomedical model will be necessary. Drawing from task-sharing models of mental health care that have been pioneered in low-resource settings, community-initiated care (CIC) represents a potentially promising collection of approaches. This landscape analysis seeks to identify examples of CIC that have been implemented outside of the research context, with the aim of identifying barriers and facilitators of scale up. Methods A narrative review approach was used for this landscape analysis in which the PubMed database was searched and further supplemented with Google Scholar. Promising programs were then discussed over multiple rounds of meetings with the research team, consisting of collaborators with varied experiences in mental health. Using the selection criteria and feedback derived from group meetings, a final list of programs was identified and summarized according to common characteristics and features. Results The initial PubMed search yielded 16 results, supplemented by review of the first 100 entries in Google Scholar. Through 5 follow-up meetings among team members, consensus was reached on a final list of 9 programs, which were grouped into three categories based on similar themes and topics: (1) approaches for the delivery of psychosocial interventions; (2) public health and integrative approaches to mental health; and (3) approaches for addressing youth mental health. Key facilitators to scale up included the importance of sustainable financing and human resources, addressing social determinants and stigma, engaging diverse stakeholders, leveraging existing health infrastructure, using sustainable training models, ensuring cultural relevance and appropriateness, and leveraging digital technologies. Discussion This landscape analysis, though not an exhaustive summary of the literature, describes promising examples of efforts to scale up CIC outside of the research context. Going forward, it will be necessary to mobilize stakeholders at the community, health system, and government levels to effectively promote CIC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angelika Morris
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Satchit Balsari
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Shekhar Saxena
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Benjamin F. Miller
- Well Being Trust, Oakland, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Vikram Patel
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - John A. Naslund
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Li C, Yang F, Yang BX, Chen W, Wang Q, Huang H, Liu Q, Luo D, Wang XQ, Ruan J. Experiences and challenges faced by community mental health workers when providing care to people with mental illness: a qualitative study. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:623. [PMID: 36131269 PMCID: PMC9490980 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04252-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental illness is a major burden of disease worldwide. Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) are key to achieving community-based recovery for people with mental illness. In China, even though the community management of patients with mental illness is improving, the barriers faced by Community Mental Health Workers (CMHWs) are unclear. This study explores the difficulties and challenges in CMHS from the perspective of CMHWs. The results of this study may provide a practical basis for the training of CMHWs. METHODS We carried out a qualitative study using an empirical phenomenological approach. Nine CMHWs were recruited from nine communities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, using purposive and snowball sampling. Face to face semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with them from December 27 to 28, 2019. Interview recordings were converted to text content by Nvivo 11.0 software and analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. RESULTS Three main themes were identified in this study: 1) Lack of role orientation leads to role ambiguity, 2) Failure to establish a therapeutic trust relationship with patients, and 3) Lack of communication and collaboration with various departments and peers. Seven sub themes were also identified. In these themes, CMHWs emphasized the importance of role clarity, therapeutic trusting relationships, and effective communication and coordination mechanisms. CONCLUSION Although China has made great efforts on the road to improving the quality of CMHS, several salient issues regarding CMHWs must be addressed to optimize the quality of services provided by CMHWs. Community mental health institutions should help CMHWs overcome these difficulties, by maximizing its value and promoting the development of CMHS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyang Li
- grid.257143.60000 0004 1772 1285Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, School of Nursing, Wuhan, China
| | - Fen Yang
- grid.257143.60000 0004 1772 1285Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, School of Nursing, Wuhan, China
| | - Bing Xiang Yang
- grid.49470.3e0000 0001 2331 6153Wuhan University, School of Nursing, Wuhan, China
| | - Wencai Chen
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Wuhan Mental Health Center, Wuhan, China
| | - Qinyu Wang
- grid.13394.3c0000 0004 1799 3993Department of Psychology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Haishan Huang
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical college, Wuhan, China
| | - Qian Liu
- grid.49470.3e0000 0001 2331 6153Wuhan University, School of Nursing, Wuhan, China
| | - Dan Luo
- Wuhan University, School of Nursing, Wuhan, China.
| | | | - Juan Ruan
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Wuhan, China.
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Shorey S, Kua EH, Tam W, Chan V, Goh YS, Lim HM, Lim LHK, Tian CS, Mahendran R. "Where-There-Is-No-Psychiatrist Integrated Personal Therapy" among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Pilot Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18189514. [PMID: 34574438 PMCID: PMC8468930 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
In Singapore, many older adults suffer from subsyndromal depression and/or subsyndromal anxiety, which can negatively impact their physical and mental well-being if left untreated. Due to the general public’s reluctance to seek psychological help and the low psychiatrist-to-population ratio in Singapore, this study aims to examine the preliminary efficacy, perceptions, and acceptability of a trained volunteer-led community-based intervention on community-dwelling older adults. Twenty-one participants (control: n = 11; intervention: n = 10) completed the randomized pilot study. A mixed-methods approach (questionnaires, semistructured interviews, examining blood samples, intervention fidelity) was adopted. No significant differences were found between the intervention and the control groups in depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, friendship, and quality of life. However, there was a positive change in quality-of-life scores from baseline to 6 months in the intervention group. The control group had significantly higher cortisol levels and lower annexin-A1 levels at 6 months, while the intervention group did not. Three themes emerged from the interviews: (1) impact of the intervention on older adults’ well-being, (2) attitudes toward intervention, and (3) a way forward. However, intervention efficacy could not be established due to small sample size caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Future randomized controlled trials should evaluate volunteer-led, technology-based psychosocial interventions to support these older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shefaly Shorey
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; (W.T.); (V.C.); (Y.S.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +65-66011294; Fax: 65-67767135
| | - Ee Heok Kua
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; (E.H.K.); (C.S.T.); (R.M.)
| | - Wilson Tam
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; (W.T.); (V.C.); (Y.S.G.)
| | - Valerie Chan
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; (W.T.); (V.C.); (Y.S.G.)
| | - Yong Shian Goh
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; (W.T.); (V.C.); (Y.S.G.)
| | - Hong Meng Lim
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore; (H.M.L.); (L.H.K.L.)
| | - Lina Hsiu Kim Lim
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore; (H.M.L.); (L.H.K.L.)
| | - Cheong Sing Tian
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; (E.H.K.); (C.S.T.); (R.M.)
| | - Rathi Mahendran
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; (E.H.K.); (C.S.T.); (R.M.)
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