Integrating mental health into chronic care in South Africa: The development of a district mental healthcare plan

2015/10/08 by Inge Petersen, Lara Fairall, Arvin Bhana +10 · 25 citations
Psychology · Health Professions · #Mental Health Treatment and Access #Family Caregiving in Mental Illness #Mental Health and Patient Involvement

paper · pdf · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.114.153726

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In South Africa, the escalating prevalence of chronic illness and its high comorbidity with mental disorders bring to the fore the need for integrating mental health into chronic care at district level. AIMS: To develop a district mental healthcare plan (MHCP) in South Africa that integrates mental healthcare for depression, alcohol use disorders and schizophrenia into chronic care. METHOD: Mixed methods using a situation analysis, qualitative key informant interviews, theory of change workshops and piloting of the plan in one health facility informed the development of the MHCP. RESULTS: Collaborative care packages for the three conditions were developed to enable integration at the organisational, facility and community levels, supported by a human resource mix and implementation tools. Potential barriers to the feasibility of implementation at scale were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The plan leverages resources and systems availed by the emerging chronic care service delivery platform for the integration of mental health. This strengthens the potential for future scale up.

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• Estimating the cost of implementing district mental healthcare plans in five low- and middle-income countries: the PRIME study. [europepmc]
• Development and pilot testing of a mental healthcare plan in Nepal. [europepmc]
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• Integration of mental health into primary care in low- and middle-income countries: the PRIME mental healthcare plans. [europepmc]
• Planning and evaluating mental health services in low- and middle-income countries using theory of change. [europepmc]
• Suicidal ideation and behaviour among community and health care seeking populations in five low- and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study. [europepmc]
• Autism spectrum disorder in sub-saharan africa: A comprehensive scoping review. [europepmc]
• Collaborative care for the detection and management of depression among adults with hypertension in South Africa: study protocol for the PRIME-SA randomised controlled trial. [europepmc]
• Collaborative care for the detection and management of depression among adults receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa: study protocol for the CobALT randomised controlled trial. [europepmc]
• Detection and treatment initiation for depression and alcohol use disorders: facility-based cross-sectional studies in five low-income and middle-income country districts. [europepmc]
• Sustainable financing options for mental health care in South Africa: findings from a situation analysis and key informant interviews. [europepmc]
• Evaluation of a collaborative care model for integrated primary care of common mental disorders comorbid with chronic conditions in South Africa. [europepmc]
• Validation of a brief mental health screening tool for common mental disorders in primary healthcare. [europepmc]
• Evaluating the role of levels of exposure to a task shared depression counselling intervention led by behavioural health counsellors: outcome and process evaluation. [europepmc]
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• Interventions to increase help-seeking for mental health care in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. [europepmc]

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