Scaling up of mental health services in the digital age: The rise of technology and its application to low- and middle-income countries

Background: Community health workers (CHWs) are a renewed focus in the 2030 SDGs. CHWs support equitable coverage for preventive, promotive, and curative services as healthcare partners. This study aimed to identify the challenges of community health workers (CHWs) in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Methods: We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, etc., for the published articles between 2015 to 2022. Twenty publications and WHO documents met the inclusion criteria and were analysed and used in the study. Results: Findings show that CHWs are valuable and cost-effective and have the potential to help achieve several SDGs. The top 10 issues faced by CHWs were listed in the research, including Lack of advancement chances, Excessive workload, Insufficient pay, Insufficient staff, Poor management culture, Lack of supervision, Poor interpersonal relationship with supervisors, limited access to technology, A lack of training and Reduced patient care time. The article also proposes critical activities to assist CHWs in achieving the SDGs. Conclusions: CHWs are essential in health care delivery and help expand preventative, promotive, and curative services. Regular evaluation of CHWs' performance is critical for creating health policy and system support that optimizes the utilization of CHWs for SGDs.

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“…As healthcare organizations embrace technology, workers may suffer. Healthcare personnel lacked technology 37 . 9…”

Section: Lack Of Supervisionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution and Challenges of Community Health Workers in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Kurapati

Thippaiah

2022

Natl J Community Med

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Exploring Content Preferences and Digital Mental Health Service Needs Among Socially Vulnerable Communities

Moretti,

Victorino,

Arouca

et al. 2024

J. technol. behav. sci.

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Digital Mental Health Interventions for Adolescents in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Scoping Review

Wani,

McCann,

Lennon

et al. 2024

J Med Internet Res

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Background Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) are increasingly recognized as potential solutions for adolescent mental health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and universal health coverage are instrumental tools for achieving mental health for all. Within this context, understanding the design, evaluation, as well as the barriers and facilitators impacting adolescent engagement with mental health care through DMHIs is essential. Objective This scoping review aims to provide insights into the current landscape of DMHIs for adolescents in LMICs. Methods The Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology was used, following the recommendations of the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews). Our search strategy incorporated 3 key concepts: population "adolescents," concept "digital mental health interventions," and context "LMICs." We adapted this strategy for various databases, including ACM Digital Library, APA PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar (including gray literature), IEEE Xplore, ProQuest, PubMed (NLM), ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. The articles were screened against a specific eligibility criterion from January 2019 to March 2024. Results We analyzed 20 papers focusing on DMHIs for various mental health conditions among adolescents, such as depression, well-being, anxiety, stigma, self-harm, and suicide ideation. These interventions were delivered in diverse formats, including group delivery and self-guided interventions, with support from mental health professionals or involving lay professionals. The study designs and evaluation encompassed a range of methodologies, including randomized controlled trials, mixed methods studies, and feasibility studies. Conclusions While there have been notable advancements in DMHIs for adolescents in LMICs, the research base remains limited. Significant knowledge gaps persist regarding the long-term clinical benefits, the maturity and readiness of LMIC digital infrastructure, cultural appropriateness, and cost-effectiveness across the heterogeneous LMIC settings. Addressing these gaps necessitates large-scale, co-designed, and culturally sensitive DMHI trials. Future work should address this.

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Scaling up of mental health services in the digital age: The rise of technology and its application to low- and middle-income countries

Cited by 6 publications

References 51 publications

Contribution and Challenges of Community Health Workers in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Contribution and Challenges of Community Health Workers in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Exploring Content Preferences and Digital Mental Health Service Needs Among Socially Vulnerable Communities

Digital Mental Health Interventions for Adolescents in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Scoping Review

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