Effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid Kit for Depression and Psychological Well-being in Adolescents

Background: Psychological state for youth not just impacts physical wellness at the moment, but also in potential lives. One of the major setbacks with adolescents developing depression in India is that most of them are unaware of the situation and majorly receive therapeutic help after the situation turns chronic in nature. Mental Health First Aid explains how symptoms of mental disease should be recognized and managed. Objectives: To develop, evaluate and validate the Mental Health First Aid Kit for depression among adolescents and their psychological well-being. Materials and Methods: For this community approach study, the teachers from the selected schools at Wardha city will be trained as potential volunteers to conduct this experimental trial with the scholar. The efficacy of Mental Health First Aid Kitwill be assessed by using various scale. The pre and post values obtained will be subjected to statistical analysis. Expected Results: The development of the proposed indigenous Mental Health First Aid Kit would facilitate positive outcomes in primary assistance to adolescents with mental health concerns. Conclusion: The results of the proposed study will be helpful to encourage the adolescent individual to identify and seek primary care until a more definitive medical diagnosis and treatment is availed.

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Evaluation of Mental Health First Aid training program in Bangladesh: A modified Delphi study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-491319/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Akib Ul Huque ◽

Umme Kawser ◽

Monira Rahman ◽

Shamini Gnani ◽

Mala Rao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Training Program ◽

Delphi Study ◽

Mental Health Treatment ◽

Social Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

First Aid ◽

Mental Health First Aid ◽

Modified Delphi ◽

First Aid Training

Abstract BackgroundBangladesh, like other low-resource countries, faces a shortage of a trained mental health workforce to meet its population's mental health needs adequately. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated this. Mental health first aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognized training program that has been operating in Bangladesh since 2015. It offers a potential way to reduce the mental health treatment gap and skills shortage by training laypeople to help support individuals with mental health issues. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of MHFA training in Bangladesh. MethodsAn online modified Delphi study was conducted consisting of two rounds of a self-administered survey and a consensus workshop. A five-step logic framework was used to develop questionnaire statements (n=111) that consisted of 'general,' 'I,' and 'social impact' statements around the seven MHFA aims. The statements were constructed in English and adapted in Bangla. The expert panel consisted of 20 participants trained in the MHFA program. Participants anonymously stated their opinion on 111 round-1 statements and then on 27 low agreement statements in round-2. The consensus workshop facilitated a group discussion where participants explained their views on the low consensus items. ResultsThe consensus ranged from 61.5% (Aim 3: Promote recovery of good mental health) to 100% (Aim 7: To improve own health and well-being) with an overall consensus of 83.8%. 'Social impact' items produced the most (50%) disagreements. Participants' comments reflected 12 themes of MHFA's effectiveness in fostering and promoting mental health individually and socially. There were nine themes of disagreement reflecting individual, sociocultural, and political barriers to the implementation of MHFA in Bangladesh. Participants made recommendations for the MHFA and mental health initiatives in Bangladesh to increase mental health awareness, acceptance, and support in society.ConclusionMHFA training offers Bangladesh and other low-and-middle-income countries a potential solution to tackle mental health burden at individual and societal levels and the additional challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic poses to mental health.

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