Mental health

Frontline heroes: Leveraging community health workers as first responders for climate-related digital mental health support

After severe floods in Pakistan disrupted health services and increased mental health needs, a digital program called mPareshan trained community health workers to provide app-based counseling for anxiety and depression. Despite the crisis and shortage of mental health professionals, these workers continued supporting affected communities using the mobile tool. The project … [Read more...] about Frontline heroes: Leveraging community health workers as first responders for climate-related digital mental health support

This study tested a smartphone-based mental health program designed to reduce stress and burnout among community health workers in rural India. Forty women health workers used a digital version of a WHO self-help program over 12 weeks. Their stress levels decreased, and most found the app helpful and easy to use, though some had minor difficulties navigating it. Participants … [Read more...] about A digital adaptation of the WHO’s Self-Help Plus psychological intervention to alleviate stress among community health workers: a mixed-methods evaluation of the SAMBHAV program in rural India

This study tested a mental health training program for 24 Community Health Agents (CHAs) in Brazil using the interRAI SAMH tool. After the training, CHAs showed improved knowledge of mental health topics, including depression, anxiety, psychoses, and suicide risk. They also felt more confident identifying and referring people with mental health issues. The results show that the … [Read more...] about Improving Mental Health Knowledge Among Brazilian Community Health Agents in a Training Program for a Self-Reported Mental Health Assessment

This study looked at whether home visits by community health workers could improve the mental health of pregnant women in rural China. Overall, the visits did not improve mental health for all women. However, they did help women who had strong support from their families, especially those with supportive husbands. The findings suggest that home visit programs work better when … [Read more...] about The mental health benefit of a community-based home-visiting program for prenatal women: evidence from a randomized controlled trial in China

This study tested a mental health program, Strong Minds, delivered by community health workers to Spanish-speaking Latine immigrants in the U.S. Participants who completed the 10-session program showed improvements in depression and anxiety. People with more severe symptoms were more likely to finish the program. The results suggest CHWs can effectively deliver mental health … [Read more...] about Effectiveness of a Community Health Worker-Delivered Depression Intervention for Uninsured Latine Immigrants