Cost-effectiveness of the Mental Health and Development model for schizophrenia-spectrum and bipolar disorders in rural Kenya

Abstract

Authors' contributions: SR, CL, JK, MW, SKW and SM designed the study; VdM, MK, and DM proposed the framework for economic analysis; VdM conducted the analysis and drafted the article; all authors revised the article and approved the final version. Funding:The intervention was funded by the European Commission's Non-State Actor funding stream (DCI-NSAPVD/2008/156-918) and the UK Department for International Development's Civil Society Challenge Fund (CSCF 450).Competing Interests: Shoba Raja, Joyce Kingori, Milka Waruguru and Saju Mannarath are employees of BasicNeeds. Abstract (164 words)Background. The treatment gap for serious mental disorders across low-income countries is estimated to be 89%. The model for Mental Health and Development (MHD) offers community-based care for people with mental disorders in eleven low-and middle-income countries.

Treatments for people living with schizophrenia in Sub‐Saharan Africa: an adapted realist review

“…In Kenya, de Menil et al. () evaluated a community‐based mental health and development model and found it to be cost‐effective and equitable. However, they noted that in the current budgetary, climate governments may not be able to afford or commit enough financial resources to ensure the programme could be rolled out.…”

Bridging the gap: investigating challenges and way forward for intersectoral provision of psychosocial rehabilitation in South Africa

“…DOSD can have a key role in incorporating service users with mental illness into their overall community development approach, specifically to address calls to alleviate the impact of poverty on those with severe mental illness [ 44 , 45 ]. Increasing evidence is mounting (largely from NGOs such as BasicNeeds) on the feasibility, cost effectiveness and benefit of inclusion of those with mental disorders in community development models [ 46 ]. This approach would also support South African progress on alignment with UN proposed sustainable development goals which include a target to promote mental health and wellbeing [ 47 ].…”

Partnership for the implementation of mental health policy in Nigeria: a case study of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Programme in Benue State

“…Self-help groups are common among mental health programmes in sub-Saharan Africa as a means of promoting agency, peer-support, and economic empowerment [28,43]. During its first phase, CCMHP established 15 self-help groups for service users and carers in 14 different local government areas.…”