The Implementation of the WHO Mental Health Gap Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) in Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia and Kyrgyz Republic

Abstract

Despite the increasing burden of mental disorders, a lot of people worldwide suffer a gap in receiving necessary care in these countries. To close this gap, the WHO has developed mhGAP training modules aimed at scaling up mental health and substance use disorders services, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This article presents the experience of implementing the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) in Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, and Kyrgyz Republic. Data were gathered from an electronic questionnaire administered to representatives from higher educational institutions where the Mental Health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) was implemented in existing curricula for medical students, interns, and residents in family medicine and neurology, practicing physicians, and master’s program in mental health students. More than 700 students went through the programs that provided the feedback. Evaluations of program effectiveness mainly involved standard discipline tests or pre- and post-tests proposed in the mhGAP trainer manual. This finding suggested that mhGAP-IG can be successfully adapted and implemented both on undergraduate and on postgraduate education levels and among medical and nonmedical specialists. Future evaluations need to more definitively assess the clinical effectiveness of mhGAP-IG implementation.

Mental health of helpline staff in Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion

“…1 Even prior to the recent invasion, Ukraine was a country with significant mental health care needs and limited resources, including the number of mental health professionals and community mental health services. 2 In March 2020, amidst health care reform-related budget cuts to mental health services 3 and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Institute of Psychiatry of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv established the "Stop, Panic!" helpline to provide the Ukrainian population with confidential counseling and psychological support from qualified mental health specialists.…”

“…With exposure to war, now entering its second month, Ukrainian residents are likely at increased risk of mental disorders. As such, providing health services to individuals exposed to war is essential, especially to protect their mental health [1].Even prior to the recent invasion, Ukraine was a country with significant mental health care needs and limited resources, including the number of mental health professionals and community mental health services [2]. In March 2020, amidst health care reform-related budget cuts to mental health services [3] and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,…”

“…Even prior to the recent invasion, Ukraine was a country with significant mental health care needs and limited resources, including the number of mental health professionals and community mental health services [2]. In March 2020, amidst health care reform-related budget cuts to mental health services [3] and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,…”

Child and adolescent mental health services in Uganda

“…This kind of training should be offered as both pre- and in-service training. Pre-service training is more cost-effective as staff do not have to take time off work, and students who have not yet finished their education can get an early introduction to the field [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

Mental health services in Ukraine during the early phases of the 2022 Russian invasion

“…5,6 Mental health services in Ukraine prior to the 2022 invasion Even prior to the recent invasion, Ukraine was a country with significant mental healthcare needs and limited resources. 7 For instance, whereas 12.4% of adults in Ukraine had symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of depression, only 3.2% of individuals with depression received treatment. 8 Furthermore, Ukraine continues to rely heavily on in-patient services to provide mental healthcare.…”