Child and Adolescent Mental Health Training Programs for Non-specialist Mental Health Professionals in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Scoping Review of Literature

Vijay Raj,Md Rafiqul Islam,Vibhay Raykar,Ainsley M Robinson

doi:10.1007/s10597-021-00805-w

Abstract

Large treatment deficits in child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) care exist in low and middle income countries (LMICs). This study reviewed CAMH training programs for non-specialist health professionals (NSHPs) in LMICs. Multiple databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles describing programs from 2005 to 2018. Educational source materials, trainee evaluation methods, and perspectives on teaching methods, course content and scheduling were studied. Six programs were identified. NSHPs were most appreciative of training which included case-based discussions, role plays and clinical demonstrations that were relevant to local contexts. A need for less intense and more flexible timetables to enable reflection was identified. WHO’s mental health gap action program intervention guide (mhGAP-IG) and international association of child and adolescent psychiatrists and allied professionals resources should be used; they are free, easily accessible, and developed with extensive international contributions. Additionally, mhGAP-IG assessment tool encourages mutual learning, thereby iteratively enhancing training programs.

Highlights

Child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) is a major concern worldwide due to the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in this group; globally, up to 20% of children and adolescents suffer from a mental illness and up to half of adult mental health disorders originate in childhood (Klasen & Crombag, 2013; Morris, 2011; World Health Organisation (WHO), 2005)
This study aims to review these efforts with the goal of understanding some of the strengths and limitations of previous CAMH training programs in low and middle income countries (LMICs)
Of these seven articles included, three of them were focused in India, of which two described the same program, in total, there were six different programs from five LMICs that were included in this study

Summary

Introduction

Child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) is a major concern worldwide due to the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in this group; globally, up to 20% of children and adolescents suffer from a mental illness and up to half of adult mental health disorders originate in childhood (Klasen & Crombag, 2013; Morris, 2011; WHO, 2005). Community Mental Health Journal countries; the treatment gap between those who need mental health interventions and those who receive such healthcare is considerable (WHO, 2005). This gap is significantly larger in LMICs. a significant deficiency in training initiatives for primary care providers in CAMH disorders compared to adult mental health disorders in LMICs has been highlighted (WHO, 2005). A major barrier to closing the treatment gap in LMICs is the meagre availability of skilled CAMH human resources, as well as unequal and inefficient dissemination and application of resources which are accessible (Babatunde et al, 2019; Saxena et al, 2007)

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