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Community-Based Mental Health Promotion and Psychosocial Support
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Community-Based Mental Health Promotion and Psychosocial Support

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Behavioral and Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2024 | Viewed by 7282

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hyojin Im

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
Interests: refugee trauma; mental health and psychosocial support; refugee resettlement; social capital; community-based participatory research; community capacity building for trauma-informed care; cultural concept of distress; cultural psychology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) is pleased to announce an upcoming Special Issue dedicated to "Community-Based Mental Health Promotion and Psychosocial Support". We are inviting researchers, scholars and practitioners to contribute their original research and review articles to this significant topic.

The landscape of mental health interventions is rapidly evolving, recognizing the necessity to extend mental health promotion and psychosocial support beyond individual therapies and towards community engagement to establish comprehensive support systems. Communities play a pivotal role in mental health care delivery, support provision, stigma reduction and the promotion of mental well-being. Therefore, it is imperative to understand, analyze and present innovative perspectives and interventions that harness and leverage the power of communities in promoting mental health. We welcome both theoretical and empirical papers that discuss, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  1. Community-based approaches for promoting mental health: exploring strategies, outcomes, and challenges
    - Investigating innovative community-based approaches, interventions and models that effectively promote mental health and psychosocial well-being, while examining their associated outcomes and the challenges encountered in their implementation.
  2. The role of community engagement in addressing mental health disparities and enhancing well-being
    - Examining the pivotal role of community engagement in reducing mental health disparities and promoting well-being, exploring effective strategies for engaging diverse communities and analyzing the impact of community involvement on mental health outcomes.
  3. Harnessing social determinants of mental health: understanding the impact and implications for community-based interventions
    - Delving into the influence of social determinants on mental health and exploring how community-based interventions can effectively address these determinants, examining their impact on mental health outcomes and discussing the implications for future interventions.
  4. Building resilient communities: exploring the intersection of mental health, psychosocial support and community resilience
    - Investigating the relationship between mental health, psychosocial support and community resilience, exploring how community-based approaches can contribute to building resilient communities and analyzing the factors that enhance community resilience in the face of adversity.
  5. Overcoming stigma and discrimination: promoting inclusion and mental health literacy within community-based programs
    - Examining strategies and interventions implemented within community-based programs to overcome mental health stigma and discrimination, exploring approaches to promote inclusivity and enhance mental health literacy at the community level.
  6. Strengthening the integration of mental health and psychosocial support services: multilevel approaches, policy implications and best practices
    - Investigating how mental health and psychosocial support services can be effectively integrated within community settings, exploring multilevel approaches, examining policy implications for integration and identifying best practices for seamless service provision.

The submission of multidisciplinary studies and those that provide global perspectives are highly encouraged.

Dr. Hyojin Im
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mental health promotion
  • psychosocial support
  • support service
  • community engagement
  • health disparities

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 1011 KiB  
Article
Comparing Mediators and Moderators of Mental Health Outcomes from the Implementation of Group Problem Management Plus (PM+) among Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants and Colombian Returnees in Northern Colombia
by Lucy Miller-Suchet, Natalia Camargo, Manaswi Sangraula, Diany Castellar, Jennifer Diaz, Valeria Meriño, Ana Maria Chamorro Coneo, David Chávez, Marcela Venegas, Maria Cristobal, Annie G. Bonz, Camilo Ramirez, Ana Maria Trejos Herrera, Peter Ventevogel, Adam D. Brown, Matthew Schojan and M. Claire Greene
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(5), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050527 - 24 Apr 2024
Viewed by 655
Abstract
Colombia hosts the largest number of refugees and migrants fleeing the humanitarian emergency in Venezuela, many of whom experience high levels of displacement-related trauma and adversity. Yet, Colombian mental health services do not meet the needs of this population. Scalable, task-sharing interventions, such [...] Read more.
Colombia hosts the largest number of refugees and migrants fleeing the humanitarian emergency in Venezuela, many of whom experience high levels of displacement-related trauma and adversity. Yet, Colombian mental health services do not meet the needs of this population. Scalable, task-sharing interventions, such as Group Problem Management Plus (Group PM+), have the potential to bridge this gap by utilizing lay workers to provide the intervention. However, the current literature lacks a comprehensive understanding of how and for whom Group PM+ is most effective. This mixed methods study utilized data from a randomized effectiveness-implementation trial to examine the mediators and moderators of Group PM+ on mental health outcomes. One hundred twenty-eight migrant and refugee women in northern Colombia participated in Group PM+ delivered by trained community members. Patterns in moderation effects showed that participants in more stable, less marginalized positions improved the most. Results from linear regression models showed that Group PM+-related skill acquisition was not a significant mediator of the association between session attendance and mental health outcomes. Participants and facilitators reported additional possible mediators and community-level moderators that warrant future research. Further studies are needed to examine mediators and moderators contributing to the effectiveness of task-shared, scalable, psychological interventions in diverse contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community-Based Mental Health Promotion and Psychosocial Support)
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11 pages, 337 KiB  
Article
Improving Retention in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Interventions: An Analysis of Completion Rates across a Multi-Site Trial with Refugee, Migrant, and Host Communities in Latin America
by Isabella Fernández Capriles, Andrea Armijos, Alejandra Angulo, Matthew Schojan, Milton L. Wainberg, Annie G. Bonz, Wietse A. Tol and M. Claire Greene
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(4), 397; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21040397 - 25 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1118
Abstract
Research on mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions within refugee and migrant communities has increasingly focused on evaluating implementation, including identifying strategies to promote retention in services. This study examines the relationship between participant characteristics, study setting, and reasons for intervention noncompletion [...] Read more.
Research on mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions within refugee and migrant communities has increasingly focused on evaluating implementation, including identifying strategies to promote retention in services. This study examines the relationship between participant characteristics, study setting, and reasons for intervention noncompletion using data from the Entre Nosotras feasibility trial, a community-based MHPSS intervention targeting refugee, migrant, and host community women in Ecuador and Panama that aimed to promote psychosocial wellbeing. Among 225 enrolled women, approximately half completed the intervention, with varying completion rates and reasons for nonattendance across study sites. Participants who were older, had migrated for family reasons, had spent more time in the study community, and were living in Panamá (vs. Ecuador) were more likely to complete the intervention. The findings suggest the need to adapt MHPSS interventions to consider the duration of access to the target population and explore different delivery modalities including the role of technology and cellular devices as reliable or unreliable source for engaging with participants. Engaging younger, newly arrived women is crucial, as they showed lower completion rates. Strategies such as consulting scheduling preferences, providing on-site childcare, and integrating MHPSS interventions with other programs could enhance intervention attendance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community-Based Mental Health Promotion and Psychosocial Support)
14 pages, 339 KiB  
Article
Accessibility and Perceived Impact of a Group Psychosocial Intervention for Women in Ecuador: A Comparative Analysis by Migration Status
by Gabrielle Wimer, Maria Larrea, Josefina Streeter, Amir Hassan, Alejandra Angulo, Andrea Armijos, Annie Bonz, Wietse A. Tol and M. Claire Greene
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(4), 380; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21040380 - 22 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1182
Abstract
There is increasing guidance promoting the provision of mental health and psychosocial support programs to both migrant and host community members in humanitarian settings. However, there is a lack of information on the respective experiences and benefits for migrant and host community members [...] Read more.
There is increasing guidance promoting the provision of mental health and psychosocial support programs to both migrant and host community members in humanitarian settings. However, there is a lack of information on the respective experiences and benefits for migrant and host community members who are participating in mental health and psychosocial support programming. We evaluated a community-based psychosocial program for migrant and host community women, Entre Nosotras, which was implemented with an international non-governmental organization in Ecuador in 2021. Data on participant characteristics and psychosocial wellbeing were collected via pre/post surveys with 143 participants, and qualitative interviews were conducted with a subset (n = 61) of participants. All quantitative analyses were conducted in STATA, and qualitative analysis was done in NVivo. Attendance was higher for host community members. Specifically, 71.4% of host community members attended 4–5 sessions, whereas only 37.4% of migrants attended 4–5 sessions (p = 0.004). Qualitative analysis shows that the intervention was less accessible for migrants due to a variety of structural barriers. However, this analysis also demonstrated that both groups of women felt a greater sense of social connectedness after participating in the program and expressed gratitude for the bonds they formed with other women. Some migrant women described negative experiences with the host community because they felt as though they could not confide in host community women and speak freely in front of them. These results underscore how the migratory context influences the implementation of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programs. As humanitarian guidelines continue to emphasize the integration of host community members and displaced persons, it is critical to account for how the same intervention may impact these populations differently. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community-Based Mental Health Promotion and Psychosocial Support)
20 pages, 773 KiB  
Article
Task Sharing and Remote Delivery of Brief Interpersonal Counseling for Venezuelan Migrants and Refugees Living in Peru during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study
by M. Claire Greene, Mayra Muro, Jeremy C. Kane, Erin Young, Alejandra Paniagua-Avila, Lucy Miller-Suchet, Maria Nouel, Annie G. Bonz, Maria Cristobal, Matthew Schojan, Peter Ventevogel, Bryan Cheng, Silvia S. Martins, Jose Carlos Ponce de Leon and Helen Verdeli
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(2), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21020166 - 31 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1492
Abstract
Refugees and migrants experience an elevated risk for mental health problems and face significant barriers to receiving services. Interpersonal counseling (IPC-3) is a three-session intervention that can be delivered by non-specialists to provide psychological support and facilitate referrals for individuals in need of [...] Read more.
Refugees and migrants experience an elevated risk for mental health problems and face significant barriers to receiving services. Interpersonal counseling (IPC-3) is a three-session intervention that can be delivered by non-specialists to provide psychological support and facilitate referrals for individuals in need of specialized care. We piloted IPC-3 delivered remotely by eight Venezuelan refugee and migrant women living in Peru. These counselors provided IPC-3 to Venezuelan refugee and migrant clients in Peru (n = 32) who reported psychological distress. Clients completed assessments of mental health symptoms at baseline and one-month post-intervention. A subset of clients (n = 15) and providers (n = 8) completed post-implementation qualitative interviews. Results showed that IPC-3 filled a gap in the system of mental health care for refugees and migrants in Peru. Some adaptations were made to IPC-3 to promote its relevance to the population and context. Non-specialist providers developed the skills and confidence to provide IPC-3 competently. Clients displayed large reductions in symptoms of depression (d = 1.1), anxiety (d = 1.4), post-traumatic stress (d = 1.0), and functional impairment (d = 0.8). Remote delivery of IPC-3 by non-specialists appears to be a feasible, acceptable, and appropriate strategy to address gaps and improve efficiency within the mental health system and warrants testing in a fully powered effectiveness study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community-Based Mental Health Promotion and Psychosocial Support)
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16 pages, 460 KiB  
Article
The Process of Home-Visiting Nurses Supporting People with Mental Disorders
by Fumi Ohtake, Maiko Noguchi-Watanabe and Kumiko Morita
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(21), 6965; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20216965 - 24 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1518
Abstract
The number of people with mental disorders (PMD) living in the community is increasing; however, it is unclear how home-visiting nurses (HVNs) supporting them in the community acquire their support skills. This study aimed to reveal the process of how HVNs learn support [...] Read more.
The number of people with mental disorders (PMD) living in the community is increasing; however, it is unclear how home-visiting nurses (HVNs) supporting them in the community acquire their support skills. This study aimed to reveal the process of how HVNs learn support skills for PMD. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 HVNs supporting PMD living in the community. The grounded theory approach was used for data analysis. As a result, two stages were present: “Explore the personal recovery of PMD” and “Believe in the potential of PMD and accompanying them”. The first stage is further divided into two themes: “Overlapping the worlds of PMD and HVNs”, and “Easing difficulty in living for PMD”. In the first stage, HVNs gained a better understanding of PMD and obtained insight into the support they needed in their daily lives. In the second stage, HVNs became to provide the support that PMD truly needed. HVNs gained a deeper understanding of the reality of PMD through their support. After HVNs found the support PMD required, they sought to provide it, ultimately resulting in finding ways to facilitate the personal recovery of PMD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community-Based Mental Health Promotion and Psychosocial Support)
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