The Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Partnership (SHARP) for Mental Health Capacity Building: a program protocol for building implementation science and mental health research and policymaking capacity in Malawi and Tanzania

Abstract

BackgroundMental health (MH) disorders in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) account for a large proportion of disease burden. While efficacious treatments exist, only 10% of those in need are able to access care. This treatment gap is fueled by structural determinants including inadequate resource allocation and prioritization, both rooted in a lack of research and policy capacity. The goal of the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Partnership for Mental Health Capacity Building (SHARP), based in Malawi and Tanzania, is to address those research and policy-based determinants.MethodsSHARP aims to (1) build implementation science skills and expertise among Malawian and Tanzanian researchers in the area of mental health; (2) ensure that Malawian and Tanzanian policymakers and providers have the knowledge and skills to effectively apply research findings on evidence-based mental health programs to routine practice; and (3) strengthen dialogue between researchers, policymakers, and providers leading to efficient and sustainable scale-up of mental health services in Malawi and Tanzania. SHARP comprises five capacity building components: introductory and advanced short courses, a multifaceted dialogue, on-the-job training, pilot grants, and “mentor the mentors” courses.DiscussionProgram evaluation includes measuring dose delivered and received, participant knowledge and satisfaction, as well as academic output (e.g., conference posters or presentations, manuscript submissions, grant applications). The SHARP Capacity Building Program aims to make a meaningful contribution in pursuit of a model of capacity building that could be replicated in other LMICs. If impactful, the SHARP Capacity Building Program could increase the knowledge, skills, and mentorship capabilities of researchers, policymakers, and providers regarding effective scale up of evidence-based MH treatment.

Saúde sexual e reprodutiva da mulher com transtorno mental: fatores que moldam a assistência profissional

“…Um estudo desenvolvido em Israel demonstrou que nessas condições os fatores culturais podem apresentar-se como uma das principais barreiras na assistência influenciando adversamente a prestação de cuidados, salientando que, o ponto de vista e atitudes dos profissionais de saúde pode levar a consequências mais sérias como a perda de confiança e uma baixa procura pelos serviços de saúde sexual e reprodutiva (Daeem et al, 2019). Neste sentido, um estudo desenvolvido com países da África Subsaariana realçou a importância de investir em ações que trabalhem a visão de mundo e a identidade cultural dos profissionais de saúde com aposta na desconstrução de estigmas que influenciam na organização e oferta dos cuidados (Akiba et al, 2019).…”

“…Aliado a intervenções que vise trabalhar com os fatores culturais dos profissionais de saúde, a capacitação dos mesmos é uma necessidade emergente para garantir os cuidados efetivos às mulheres com transtorno mental (Akiba et al, 2019). Tal fato equiparasse aos resultados do presente estudo, em que os participantes relataram não estar preparados para atender a saúde sexual e reprodutiva da mulher com transtorno mental.…”

“…Recursos preventivos orientadores e capacitadores são necessários para a melhoria da assistência de saúde a população assistida, principalmente quando estes fazem parte dos grupos mais vulneráveis e passíveis de ter os seus direitos comprometidos ou negados. Um estudo desenvolvido em países de renda baixa e média (LMICs) evidenciou que uma baixa prioridade ou comprometimento insuficiente no nível governamental, para investir em políticas públicas que superem as principais barreiras para o desenvolvimento de serviços de saúde mental e ofertar um cuidado resolutivo a esses utentes, pode ter consequência não intencional em alienar essas mulheres as invés de as empoderar (Akiba et al, 2019).…”

Assessing suicidality during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Lessons learned from adaptation and implementation of a telephone-based suicide risk assessment and response protocol in Malawi

“…In the midst of an ongoing clinical trial integrating depression treatment in non-communicable disease (NCD) settings in Malawi, researchers and participants in the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Partnership for Mental Health Capacity Building (SHARP) study underwent a rapid change from in-person suicidality assessments to telephone-based assessments by developing a protocol to provide a robust, feasible, and rapidly adaptable protocol to assess suicidality in a timely, safe, quality, affordable, and virtual manner [33][34][35].…”

The cross-sectional association of stressful life events with depression severity among patients with hypertension and diabetes in Malawi

“…Our goal was to examine the cross-sectional association of recent SLEs with heightened current depressive severity in a cohort of patients with NCDs with mild to severe depression in Malawi [38]. We hypothesized that participants who report exposure to more stressful life events in the 3-month period before baseline interviews would present with more severe depressive symptoms at baseline.…”