Mental health

The mental health benefit of a community-based home-visiting program for prenatal women: evidence from a randomized controlled trial in China

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

This study tested a large suicide-prevention program in rural India. The program combined school lessons on mental health, safe storage of pesticides, and CHW training to spot and support people at risk. Across 124 villages, the program did not reduce the overall number of suicide attempts and deaths when combined, but it did lead to fewer deaths by suicide. Students who … [Read more...] about Implementation of an integrated community-based suicide prevention programme, Gujarat, India: cluster randomised controlled trial

This study tested a smartphone-based version of the WHO’s Self-Help Plus program, called SAMBHAV, to help community health workers (ASHAs) in rural India manage stress and burnout. Forty ASHAs used the app over 12 weeks, showing reduced psychological distress and reporting it was practical, easy to use, and empowering. While some app navigation issues were noted, the … [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 surveyed CHWs in Haiti, Malawi, and Rwanda to understand how they view mental health, what they know, and how much stigma they see around them. Many CHWs saw their risk of mental illness as similar to their risk of physical illness, and women often felt more at risk than men. Knowledge scores were moderate, with common gaps such as not recognizing addiction as a … [Read more...] about Mental Health Knowledge, Perceived Risk, and Perceived Stigma Among Community Health Workers in Haiti, Malawi, and Rwanda: a cross-sectional study