@article{575c890cdefb485c9bc8589cd4720291,
title = "Evaluation of capacity-building strategies for mental health system strengthening in low- and middle-income countries for service users and caregivers, policymakers and planners, and researchers",
abstract = "BackgroundStrengthening of mental health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) requires the involvement of appropriately skilled and committed individuals from a range of stakeholder groups. Currently, few evidence-based capacity-building activities and materials are available to enable and sustain comprehensive improvements.AimsWithin the Emerald Project, the goal of this study was to evaluate capacity-building activities for three target groups: (a) service users with mental health conditions and their caregivers; (b) policymakers and planners; and (c) mental health researchers.MethodWe developed and tailored three short courses (between 1 and 5 days long). We then implemented and evaluated these short courses on 24 different occasions. We assessed satisfaction among 527 course participants as well as pre-post changes in knowledge in six LMICs (Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda). Changes in research capacity of partner Emerald institutions was also assessed through monitoring of academic outputs of participating researchers and students and via anonymous surveys.ResultsShort courses were associated with high levels of satisfaction and led to improvements in knowledge across target groups. In relation to institutional capacity building, all partner institutions reported improvements in research capacity for most aspects of mental health system strengthening and global mental health, and many of these positive changes were attributed to the Emerald programme. In terms of outputs, eight PhD students submitted a total of 10 papers relating to their PhD work (range 0-4) and were involved in 14 grant applications, of which 43% (n = 6) were successful.ConclusionsThe Emerald project gas shown that building capacity of key stakeholders in mental health system strengthening is possible. However, the starting point and appropriate strategies for this may vary across different countries, depending on the local context, needs and resources.",
keywords = "Low- and middle-income countries, capacity-building, mental health, mental health systems",
author = "Sara Evans-Lacko and Charlotte Hanlon and Atalay Alem and Ayuso-Mateos, {Jose Luis} and Dan Chisholm and Oye Gureje and Mark Jordans and Fred Kigozi and Heidi Lempp and Crick Lund and Inge Petersen and Rahul Shidhaye and Graham Thornicroft and Maya Semrau",
note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n° 305968; and the PRIME Research Programme Consortium, funded by the UK Department of International Development (DFID) for the benefit of developing countries. No funding bodies had any role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the funders. G.T. is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) South London and by the NIHR Applied Research Centre (ARC) at King{\textquoteright}s College London NHS Foundation Trust, and the NIHR Applied Research and the NIHR Asset Global Health Unit award. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. G.T. receives support from the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01MH100470 (Cobalt study). G.T. is supported by the UK Medical Research Council in relation the Emilia (MR/S001255/1) and Indigo Partnership (MR/R023697/1) awards. M.S. is supported through the NIHR Global Health Research Unit for Neglected Tropical Diseases at BSMS. S.E.-L. is supported by the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC grant agreement n° (337673), Medical Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council and Global Challenges Research Fund. C.H. is supported by the PRogramme for Improving Mental health carE (PRIME), which is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DfID) (201446). The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the UK Government{\textquoteright}s official policies. G.T., C.H., C.L., A.A. and I.P. are funded by the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Health System Strengthening in Sub-Saharan Africa, King's College London (GHRU 16/136/54) using UK aid from the UK Government. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. C.H. additionally receives support from AMARI as part of the DELTAS Africa Initiative (DEL-15-01). Acknowledgements Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 The Royal College of Psychiatrists.",
year = "2019",
month = aug,
day = "6",
doi = "10.1192/bjo.2019.14",
language = "English",
volume = "5",
pages = "1--10",
journal = "Bjpsych open",
issn = "2056-4724",
publisher = "Cambridge University Press",
number = "5",
}