Using cocreated visually informed community mental health education in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A case study of youth substance misuse in Assam, India

Abstract

Introduction: Our aim is to evaluate the visually informed community mental health education materials cocreated in our research on youth substance misuse in Assam, India, and to reflect on what we might learn for similar initiatives in low-and middleincome countries.Methods: Materials consist of: (i) images participants brought to the interview; (ii) 30 posters cocreated by participants to convey key messages from their interview; (iii) six short films on the implications of addiction, and (iv) an animation of our Pathways to Recovery model. We also created a community education package that incorporated these materials. We analyse feedback from three groups of events and a social media campaign, which drew variably across our materials and engaged a range of audiences.Results: Outcomes indicate the cocreation process and focus on the visual was successful in promoting young people's voice, increasing awareness and has potential for stigma reduction. Our educational package was deemed useful in increasing awareness and has potential for prevention and treatment.Conclusions: Our case study offers insights into community mental health education in low-and middle-income countries, confirming the importance of cocreation, the usefulness of visual materials and the potential of social media campaigns while acknowledging the importance of local context in health messaging, particularly for stigmatized topics.

Empowering Young Women: A Qualitative Co-Design Study of a Social Media Health Promotion Programme

“…A number of health interventions using social media have been co-designed with young people and have utilised platforms such as Facebook Messenger and Instagram [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. Other promotion strategies within academic research have involved collaboration with film makers to develop short educational films [ 43 , 44 ]. For example, the short films for the “What’s Up with Everyone” project were disseminated via YouTube [ 43 ].…”

Pathways to recovery model of youth substance misuse in Assam, India

“…In support of these potential policy initiatives, we have cocreated a visually informed community education package around our model 49 . Early piloting has been conducted in Assam with high school students, the general public, postgraduate mental health trainees and women in rural and semirural districts.…”

“…The key implications of this research for policy development in In support of these potential policy initiatives, we have cocreated a visually informed community education package around our model. 49 Early piloting has been conducted in Assam with high school students, the general public, postgraduate mental health trainees and women in rural and semirural districts. This demonstrated that the education package was successful in promoting young people's voice with regard to SUD prevention and recovery, increasing awareness of their needs and has the potential for stigma reduction.…”