How Community Engagement Supports Mental Health Recovery Programs
The supportive and non-threatening environment of a temple, even in the absence of specific healing rituals, played a significant role in reducing clinical symptoms.62 VHWs in the Friendship Bench programme advocated for the need for implementation near their homes, and to be provided with bicycles to ease transport difficulties.52 Employing community-acceptable terms, such as ‘distress’ and ‘well-being’ instead of ‘depression’ and ‘anxiety’, also facilitated greater acceptance of programmes.50 About 29 of the 35 included studies reported improvements in well-being, including those consistent with personal recovery indicators (Table 2). In these integrated service delivery programmes, implementation was typically conducted by trained lay community members acting as counsellors,48 or peers who were Indigenous persons,35 or mothers,42 or by a diverse team of stakeholders, including programme volunteers and management committee members.66 VISHRAM (Vidarbha Stress and Health Programme) involve lay community workers, who refer complex cases to primary care doctors.63
Developed a set of tools to assist individuals, communities and policymakers to evaluate and improve wellbeing. To empower people across the Yorkshire and Humber region to improve their own health and that of their families and their communities. To build collective control to address health and wellbeing in communities. Improve health and wellbeing inequities of the Ranui people.
Like a day that never ends : a journey through depression brochure
Being part of community life helps individuals connect with others, build supportive relationships, and develop resilience. These partnerships help ensure that interventions are culturally relevant, accessible, and tailored to the community’s unique needs. This supports locally-led initiatives and there has been significant local autonomy on how it is implemented, as long as it is in line with published guidance. If you work in health or social care and would like further information on SMI physical health, please join our Futures platform (registration required). A practical toolkit for mental health trusts and commissioners is also available to help providers and commissioners improve the physical health of patients with serious mental illness in secondary care. Improving Physical Healthcare for People with SMI Guidance details the action and collaboration required by commissioners and providers in primary and secondary care to improve access to and the quality of physical health checks and ensure appropriate follow-up care is given.
Measuring Impact and Outcomes
Service users spoke of finding https://rb.gy/yew9me acceptance at the Clinic and feeling more able to manage mental health conditions since attending. The service supports over 200 individuals and their families per year and is the only service of its kind in the country. Structurally, the centre has indoor and outdoor common areas for socializing and interacting with others, a dining area, individual counselling rooms, a group activities room, pharmacy, and female and male dorms, each with four beds, where people who are in crisis or need respite can stay for up to 14 days. Atmiyata Gujarat was initially funded by Grand Challenges Canada but now receives support from Mariwala Health Initiative, in partnership with Altruist, a local non-governmental organization funded by the Government of Gujarat and TRIMBOS Institute.
- This model incorporates partnerships with various sectors, striving to reduce stigma and improve awareness regarding mental health issues.
- This holistic approach not only addresses clinical needs but also strengthens social support structures that contribute to overall community resilience.
- Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is an employment support intervention involving intensive, individual support, a rapid job search followed by placement in paid employment, and in-work support for both the employee and their new employer.
- The quality appraisal results of the included studies varied based on the research designs.
In close and equitable partnerships with communities and policy leaders, future community interventions in mental health should seek to improve health and achieve large-scale social outcomes through initiatives that address mental health, structural, and social inequities. Policies as varied as mental health insurance parity, assisted outpatient treatment statutes, quality metrics for social determinants of health, value-based payment reforms, and the integration of funds and services for health and social care have the potential to improve access to treatment and improve outcomes 114–117, 118•, 119–121. By integrating mental health services into primary care, communities can enhance accessibility and create a more responsive support system. Empowerment is a critical component of community-based initiatives, as it enables individuals and communities to take control of their mental health and well-being.