Pilot Community Mental Health Awareness Campaign Improves Service Coverage in India
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Pilot Community Mental Health Awareness Campaign Improves Service Coverage in India Shivani Mathur Gaiha1,4 · Fazlur Rahman Gulfam2,5 · Iram Siddiqui2,6 · Rangashri Kishore3,7 · Sujaya Krishnan2 Received: 23 October 2019 / Accepted: 19 September 2020 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Purpose Low community awareness of mental health problems negatively impacts treatment-seeking for such problems. Despite a shortage of mental health providers, there is scope to improve coverage of mental health services in India. In this study, we examined the impact of a multi-state community-based awareness campaign on knowledge, attitude, treatmentseeking behavior and acceptability. Methods Campaign activities included educational materials, public meetings, musical announcements, quizzes, and street plays, followed by a mental health screening camp. A rapid, real-world evaluation was conducted using post-intervention surveys (n = 693), field notes and telephonic interviews in five states. Results The campaign, implemented as a public–private partnership between government service providers and communitybased organizations, reached ~ 3000 people in 20 new locations across five states. As a result of the campaign, 1,176 persons sought treatment services for mental disorders and 66% received a preliminary diagnosis. Collectively, campaign activities were the first time that ~ 75% of participants reported learning about mental health problems. Participants expressed knowledge that mental disorders are treatable, listed common symptoms and location of available mental health services and attitudes supporting people with mental health problems. Conclusion The campaign enabled improved coverage for mental health services, potentially by enhancing knowledge, attitude and treatment-seeking behavior. Future research may develop a quasi-experimental evaluation of the current campaign methodology. Keywords Mental health promotion · India · Treatment gap · Knowledge · Attitude and practice · Campaign · Stigma · Health literacy · Service delivery Sujaya Krishnan—Retired. * Shivani Mathur Gaiha [email protected]; [email protected] 1
Health Communication and Advocacy Division, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India
2
National Mental Health Programme, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, India
3
Public Health Foundation of India and Richmond Fellowship Society - Delhi, New Delhi, India
4
Present Address: Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 770 Welch Road, Suite 100, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
5
Present Address: India HIV/AIDS Alliance, New Delhi, India
6
Present Address: Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
7
Present Address: Krea University, Sri City, India
Background The lifetime prevalence of a range of mental health disorders in Indians above the age of 18 years is estimated t
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