COVID-19 and mental health services delivery at Ingutsheni Central Hospital in Zimbabwe: Lessons for psychiatric social work practice

2021 ◽  
pp. 002087282110319
Author(s):  
Wilberforce Kurevakwesu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Central Hospital ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Health Services Delivery ◽  
Services Delivery

This qualitative study explores the factors affecting mental health services delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic at Ingutsheni Central Hospital. A descriptive phenomenological design was used. Data were collected from 16 participants using interview guides and were analysed through interpretative phenomenological analysis. Participants underlined several factors affecting mental health management and these were, inter alia, the congestion of wards and lack of resources. In riposte, they recommended several solutions towards curtailing these challenges. Based on the findings, the research then elucidates roles that psychiatric social workers can take towards improving mental health services delivery during the pandemic period.

scholarly journals Operational challenges in conducting a community-based technology-enabled mental health services delivery model for rural India: Experiences from the SMART Mental Health Project

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Pallab K. Maulik ◽  
Sudha Kallakuri ◽  
Siddhardha Devarapalli
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Rural India ◽  
Operational Strategies ◽  
Health Services Delivery ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Health Project

Background: There are large gaps in the delivery of mental health care in low- and middle-income countries such as India, and the problems are even more acute in rural settings due to lack of resources, remoteness, and lack of infrastructure, amongst other factors. The Systematic Medical Appraisal Referral and Treatment (SMART) Mental Health Project was conceived as a mental health services delivery model using technology-based solutions for rural India. This paper reports on the operational strategies used to facilitate the implementation of the intervention. Method: Key components of the SMART Mental Health Project included delivering an anti-stigma campaign, training of primary health workers in screening, diagnosing and managing stress, depression and increased suicide risk and task sharing of responsibilities in delivering care; and using mobile technology based electronic decision support systems to support delivery of algorithm based care for such disorders. The intervention was conducted in 42 villages across two sites in the state of Andhra Pradesh in south India. A pre-post mixed methods evaluation was done, and in this paper operational challenges are reported. Results: Both quantitative and qualitative results from the evaluation from one site covering about 5000 adults showed that the intervention was feasible and acceptable, and initial results indicated that it was beneficial in increasing access to mental health care and reducing depression and anxiety symptoms. A number of strategies were initiated in response to operational challenges to ensure smoother conduct of the project and facilitated the project to be delivered as envisaged. Conclusions: The operational strategies initiated for this project were successful in ensuring the delivery of the intervention. Those, coupled with other more systematic processes have informed the researchers to understand key processes that need to be in place to develop a more robust study, that could eventually be scaled up.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document