Citation

Petagna M, Marley C, Guerra C, Calia C, Reid C. Community Ment. Health J. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10597-022-00981-3

PMID

35579725

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) supports engagement of non-specialists in mental health services in Low- and Middle-Income countries. Given this aim, assessment of the effectiveness of approaches under its remit is warranted. AIMS: We evaluated mhGAP approaches relating to child and adolescent mental health, focusing on provider / child outcomes, and barriers / facilitators of implementation.

METHODS: Thirteen databases were searched for reviews and primary research on mhGAP roll out for child and adolescent mental health.

RESULTS: Twelve studies were reviewed. Provider-level outcomes were restricted to knowledge gains, with limited evidence of other effects. Child-level outcomes included improved access to care, enhanced functioning and socio-emotional well-being. Organisational factors, clients and providers? attitudes and expectations, and transcultural considerations were barriers.

CONCLUSIONS: Further attention to the practical and methodological aspects of implementation of evaluation may improve the quality of evidence of the effectiveness of approaches under its remit.

Language: en

Keywords

LMIC; Child and Adolescent Mental Health; Global Mental Health; mhGAP; mhGAP-IG