Barriers and drivers to capacity-building in global mental health projects
Abstract Background The global shortage of mental health workers is a significant barrier to the implementation and scale-up of mental health services. Partially as a result of this shortage, approximately 85% of people with mental, neurological and substance-use disorders in low- and middle-income...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-020-00420-4 |
| _version_ | 1818384750740504576 |
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| author | Tarik Endale Onaiza Qureshi Grace Kathryn Ryan Georgina Miguel Esponda Ruth Verhey Julian Eaton Mary De Silva Jill Murphy |
| author_facet | Tarik Endale Onaiza Qureshi Grace Kathryn Ryan Georgina Miguel Esponda Ruth Verhey Julian Eaton Mary De Silva Jill Murphy |
| author_sort | Tarik Endale |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The global shortage of mental health workers is a significant barrier to the implementation and scale-up of mental health services. Partially as a result of this shortage, approximately 85% of people with mental, neurological and substance-use disorders in low- and middle-income countries do not receive care. Consequently, developing and implementing scalable solutions for mental health capacity-building has been identified as a priority in global mental health. There remains limited evidence to inform best practices for capacity building in global mental health. As one in a series of four papers on factors affecting the implementation of mental health projects in low- and middle-income countries, this paper reflects on the experiences of global mental health grantees funded by Grand Challenges Canada, focusing on the barriers to and drivers of capacity-building. Methods Between June 2014 and May 2017, current or former Grand Challenges Canada Global Mental Health grantees were recruited using purposive sampling. N = 29 grantees participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews, representing projects in Central America and the Caribbean (n = 4), South America (n = 1), West Africa (n = 4), East Africa (n = 6), South Asia (n = 11) and Southeast Asia (n = 3). Based on the results of a quantitative analysis of project outcomes using a portfolio-level Theory of Change framework, six key themes were identified as important to implementation success. As part of a larger multi-method study, this paper utilized a framework analysis to explore the themes related to capacity-building. Results Study participants described barriers and facilitators to capacity building within three broad themes: (1) training, (2) supervision, and (3) quality assurance. Running throughout these thematic areas were the crosscutting themes of contextual understanding, human resources, and sustainability. Additionally, participants described approaches and mechanisms for successful capacity building. Conclusions This study demonstrates the importance of capacity building to global mental health research and implementation, its relationship to stakeholder engagement and service delivery, and the implications for funders, implementers, and researchers alike. Investment in formative research, contextual understanding, stakeholder engagement, policy influence, and integration into existing systems of education and service delivery is crucial for the success of capacity building efforts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T03:27:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a769f8b4442f4910848b81431c5519b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-4458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T03:27:14Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-a769f8b4442f4910848b81431c5519b62022-12-21T23:18:51ZengBMCInternational Journal of Mental Health Systems1752-44582020-12-0114111210.1186/s13033-020-00420-4Barriers and drivers to capacity-building in global mental health projectsTarik Endale0Onaiza Qureshi1Grace Kathryn Ryan2Georgina Miguel Esponda3Ruth Verhey4Julian Eaton5Mary De Silva6Jill Murphy7Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia UniversityDepartment of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineDepartment of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineHealth Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College LondonResearch Support Centre, University of ZimbabweDepartment of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineDepartment of Population Health, Wellcome TrustDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British ColumbiaAbstract Background The global shortage of mental health workers is a significant barrier to the implementation and scale-up of mental health services. Partially as a result of this shortage, approximately 85% of people with mental, neurological and substance-use disorders in low- and middle-income countries do not receive care. Consequently, developing and implementing scalable solutions for mental health capacity-building has been identified as a priority in global mental health. There remains limited evidence to inform best practices for capacity building in global mental health. As one in a series of four papers on factors affecting the implementation of mental health projects in low- and middle-income countries, this paper reflects on the experiences of global mental health grantees funded by Grand Challenges Canada, focusing on the barriers to and drivers of capacity-building. Methods Between June 2014 and May 2017, current or former Grand Challenges Canada Global Mental Health grantees were recruited using purposive sampling. N = 29 grantees participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews, representing projects in Central America and the Caribbean (n = 4), South America (n = 1), West Africa (n = 4), East Africa (n = 6), South Asia (n = 11) and Southeast Asia (n = 3). Based on the results of a quantitative analysis of project outcomes using a portfolio-level Theory of Change framework, six key themes were identified as important to implementation success. As part of a larger multi-method study, this paper utilized a framework analysis to explore the themes related to capacity-building. Results Study participants described barriers and facilitators to capacity building within three broad themes: (1) training, (2) supervision, and (3) quality assurance. Running throughout these thematic areas were the crosscutting themes of contextual understanding, human resources, and sustainability. Additionally, participants described approaches and mechanisms for successful capacity building. Conclusions This study demonstrates the importance of capacity building to global mental health research and implementation, its relationship to stakeholder engagement and service delivery, and the implications for funders, implementers, and researchers alike. Investment in formative research, contextual understanding, stakeholder engagement, policy influence, and integration into existing systems of education and service delivery is crucial for the success of capacity building efforts.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-020-00420-4Global mental healthCapacity buildingImplementationLow- and middle-income countriesTrainingSupervision |
| spellingShingle | Tarik Endale Onaiza Qureshi Grace Kathryn Ryan Georgina Miguel Esponda Ruth Verhey Julian Eaton Mary De Silva Jill Murphy Barriers and drivers to capacity-building in global mental health projects International Journal of Mental Health Systems Global mental health Capacity building Implementation Low- and middle-income countries Training Supervision |
| title | Barriers and drivers to capacity-building in global mental health projects |
| title_full | Barriers and drivers to capacity-building in global mental health projects |
| title_fullStr | Barriers and drivers to capacity-building in global mental health projects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Barriers and drivers to capacity-building in global mental health projects |
| title_short | Barriers and drivers to capacity-building in global mental health projects |
| title_sort | barriers and drivers to capacity building in global mental health projects |
| topic | Global mental health Capacity building Implementation Low- and middle-income countries Training Supervision |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-020-00420-4 |
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