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Human resources for mental health care: current situation and strategies for action

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Authors: Ritsuko Kakuma, Harry Minas, Nadja van Ginneken, Mario R Dal Poz, Keshav Desiraju, Jodi E Morris, Shekhar Saxena, Richard M Scheffler

A challenge faced by many countries is to provide adequate human resources for delivery of essential mental health interventions. The overwhelming worldwide shortage of human resources for mental health, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries, is well established.

Evidence suggests that mental health care can be delivered effectively in primary health-care settings, through community-based programmes and task-shifting approaches. Non-specialist health professionals, lay workers, affected individuals, and caregivers with brief training and appropriate supervision by mental health specialists are able to detect, diagnose, treat, and monitor individuals with mental disorders and reduce caregiver burden. 

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Resource Topic: CHW Role, CHWs and Mental Health, Chronic conditions, Community Health Workers/Volunteers, Human Resources Management/Workforce Development, Leadership, Scale-up

Resource Type: Issue papers

Year: 2011

Region:

Country: Global

Publisher May Restrict Access: No

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