Theresa S Betancourt1, Nathan Hansen1, Jordan Farrar1, Ryan C Borg1, Tamora Callands1, Alethea Desrosiers1, Cara M Antonaccio1, Makeda J Williams1, Joseph Bangura1, Robert T Brennan1. 1. School of Social Work, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts (Betancourt, Farrar, Borg, Desrosiers, Antonaccio, Brennan); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Hansen, Callands); National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Bethesda, Maryland (Williams); Caritas Freetown, Freetown, Sierra Leone (Bangura); Women's Study Research Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts (Brennan).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This article describes the incorporation of an evidence-based mental health intervention, the Youth Readiness Intervention (YRI), into a youth entrepreneurship training program in Sierra Leone. A collaborative team approach (CTA) was used as the implementation strategy to address the human resource shortage and related challenges associated with capacity and access to care. METHODS: A cluster randomized quasi-experimental pilot trial (N=175) was conducted in one rural district of Sierra Leone. Pilot data assessed implementation feasibility and clinical effectiveness when using a CTA. A larger hybrid type-2 effectiveness-implementation cluster randomized trial is underway (N=1,151) in three rural districts. Findings on feasibility and fidelity, barriers and facilitators influencing the integration of the YRI into the entrepreneurship program, and clinical effectiveness of the YRI are of interest. RESULTS: Findings from the pilot study indicated that the YRI can be implemented within a youth entrepreneurship program and provide mental health benefits to youths at high risk of emotion dysregulation and interpersonal deficits. Pilot findings informed the ongoing, larger hybrid type-2 trial to understand barriers and facilitators of the CTA and clinical effectiveness of the YRI within youth employment programming. NEXT STEPS: In fragile postconflict settings, innovative approaches are needed to address the mental health treatment gap. Findings from this study will support efforts by the government of Sierra Leone and its partners to address human resource challenges and increase access to evidence-based mental health services.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: This article describes the incorporation of an evidence-based mental health intervention, the Youth Readiness Intervention (YRI), into a youth entrepreneurship training program in Sierra Leone. A collaborative team approach (CTA) was used as the implementation strategy to address the human resource shortage and related challenges associated with capacity and access to care. METHODS: A cluster randomized quasi-experimental pilot trial (N=175) was conducted in one rural district of Sierra Leone. Pilot data assessed implementation feasibility and clinical effectiveness when using a CTA. A larger hybrid type-2 effectiveness-implementation cluster randomized trial is underway (N=1,151) in three rural districts. Findings on feasibility and fidelity, barriers and facilitators influencing the integration of the YRI into the entrepreneurship program, and clinical effectiveness of the YRI are of interest. RESULTS: Findings from the pilot study indicated that the YRI can be implemented within a youth entrepreneurship program and provide mental health benefits to youths at high risk of emotion dysregulation and interpersonal deficits. Pilot findings informed the ongoing, larger hybrid type-2 trial to understand barriers and facilitators of the CTA and clinical effectiveness of the YRI within youth employment programming. NEXT STEPS: In fragile postconflict settings, innovative approaches are needed to address the mental health treatment gap. Findings from this study will support efforts by the government of Sierra Leone and its partners to address human resource challenges and increase access to evidence-based mental health services.
Entities:
Keywords:
Alternative delivery platforms; Quality improvement; collaborative team approach; low- and middle-income countries; mental health treatment gap; youth employment/youth entrepreneurship
Authors: John A Naslund; Jasmine Kalha; Juliana L Restivo; Ishmael Amarreh; Tamora Callands; Hongtu Chen; Carlos Gomez-Restrepo; Hesham M Hamoda; Arjun Kapoor; Sue Levkoff; Jones Masiye; Maria A Oquendo; Vikram Patel; Inge Petersen; Ozge Sensoy Bahar; Laura Shields-Zeeman; Fred M Ssewamala; Deepak Tugnawat; José Miguel Uribe-Restrepo; Lakshmi Vijayakumar; Bradley H Wagenaar; Milton L Wainberg; Larry Wissow; Haja Ramatulai Wurie; Chifundo Zimba; Soumitra Pathare Journal: Asian J Psychiatr Date: 2021-01-24