“I will not step back”: A Qualitative Study of Lay Mental Health Workers’ Experiences in India

Wood, Sheena; Seevak, Emma; Bhatia, Urvita; McBain, Ryan; Nadkarni, Abhijit

doi:10.1007/s10488-020-01102-6

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…And they trust us so much that if they have any family matter or if their relative has some problem, then they call us. (lay health worker) [ 75 ]…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Perspectives of health workers engaging in task shifting to deliver health care in low-and-middle-income countries: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Coales

Jennings

Afaq

et al. 2023

Global Health Action

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are experiencing growing demand for healthcare services yet face a persistent shortage in access to specialist health workers (SHWs). Task shifting is an approach used to address this gap in service provision. Specific healthcare tasks are shifted to other, larger cadres of non-specialist health workers (NSHWs), including lay health workers with SHWs potentially taking on supervisory roles. Previous studies demonstrate that task shifting is both clinically and economically effective, however the impact of task shifting on health workers (HWs) is not fully understood. Objective The aim of this synthesis is to generate new knowledge about what influences HWs perspectives of benefits and costs of engaging in task shifting. Methods A qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) of peer-reviewed literature using databases CINAHL, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Psych INFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Epistimonikos, Web of Science (science and social science citation index), Scopus LILACS, the African Index Medicus and Google Scholar. Eligible studies were those that included qualitative data about HWs perspectives of task shifting in LMICs. Information from eligible studies was extracted into a Google Sheet, and the data gathered were analysed thematically. Results Fifty-four studies were included in the QES. Results were organised under three themes, ‘the cultural environment in which task shifting is employed’, ‘access to resources for task shifting’ and ‘alignment with personal values and beliefs, self-efficacy and personal emotional resilience’. Conclusion This is the first review bringing together views about task shifting from the perspective of different cadres of HWs drawn from diverse healthcare, geographical and country settings in LMICs. Task shifting is a complex process which relies upon the active engagement of HWs. Taking into consideration factors that influence HWs perspectives, such as their personal characteristics, preparatory training, and ongoing access to resources, is important for informing how task shifted healthcare initiatives are designed and delivered to successfully widen access to healthcare in LMICs.

show abstract

“…And they trust us so much that if they have any family matter or if their relative has some problem, then they call us. (lay health worker) [ 75 ]…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When we say that, but still they say you have helped me so much, that happiness, that feeling we cannot express it. (lay health worker) [ 75 ]…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives of health workers engaging in task shifting to deliver health care in low-and-middle-income countries: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Coales

Jennings

Afaq

et al. 2023

Global Health Action

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Focus group schedules were developed through a process of studying relevant literature regarding the role of lay workers in mental health services [39][40][41] and through consultation with the wider study team (Appendix 1). Facilitators were briefed on the focus group protocol in two series of online meetings before undertaking focus groups.…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An exploration of the Roles of Lay Mental Health Workers (Cadres) in Community Mental Health Services in Indonesia: A Qualitative Study

Susanti

Brooks

Yulia

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Volunteers trained to support community mental health programs in Indonesia are known as ‘mental health cadres.’ These are lay people trained to provide basic support for people with mental health problems in their local communities. Their contribution has the potential to address the challenges health services currently face in remote, rural, and resource-limited settings. However, little is currently known about the implementation of this form of the lay workforce and the experiences of mental health cadres in Indonesia in particular. This study aimed to explore the role of volunteer cadres in community mental health services in Indonesia from the cadres' perspective. Methods: The study employed a descriptive qualitative design. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit cadres with at least one year of experience across four geographical areas in Java and Sumatra, Indonesia. Data were collected utilising focus groups undertaken between July and November 2020. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, eight focus group sessions for people with mental disorders and families were carried out virtually via zoom and non-virtual, facilitated by local moderators. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The study involved 71 cadres in four regions: Aceh, Jakarta, West Java and East Java. The majority of participants were looking after their families with a minimum of high school-level qualifications. Four themes were interpreted from the data: (1) Motivation for volunteering, (2) The role of cadres in supporting mental health services, (3) Training and support needs, and (4) Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of cadre roles in local communities. Conclusions:Cadres reported a motivation to help people to improve their mental health and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. Cadres also contributed to secondary and primary prevention of mental illness with some limitations. This study's results are relevant to those wishing to understand and optimise the implementation of lay workforces in resource-limited settings.

show abstract

Mental Health Care Models in Low-and Middle-Income Countries

Nadkarni

Hanlon

Patel

2023

Tasman’s Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“I will not step back”: A Qualitative Study of Lay Mental Health Workers’ Experiences in India

Cited by 7 publications

References 27 publications

Perspectives of health workers engaging in task shifting to deliver health care in low-and-middle-income countries: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Perspectives of health workers engaging in task shifting to deliver health care in low-and-middle-income countries: a qualitative evidence synthesis

An exploration of the Roles of Lay Mental Health Workers (Cadres) in Community Mental Health Services in Indonesia: A Qualitative Study

Mental Health Care Models in Low-and Middle-Income Countries

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About