Cited by 110Mental Health Treatment and AccessPsychiatric care and mental health servicesGlobal Health Workforce Issues

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 33 of the 34 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 46 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Expanding mental health services in low- and middle-income countries: A task-shifting framework for delivery of comprehensive, collaborative, and community-based care

Open access

Abstract

This paper proposes a framework for comprehensive, collaborative, and community-based care (C4) for accessible mental health services in low-resource settings. Because mental health conditions have many causes, this framework includes social, public health, wellness and clinical services. It accommodates integration of stand-alone mental health programs with health and non-health community-based services. It addresses gaps in previous models including lack of community-based psychotherapeutic and social services, difficulty in addressing comorbidity of mental and physical conditions, and how workers interact with respect to referral and coordination of care. The framework is based on task-shifting of services to non-specialized workers. While the framework draws on the World Health Organization’s Mental Health Gap Action Program and other global mental health models, there are important differences. The C4 Framework delineates types of workers based on their skills. Separate workers focus on: basic psychoeducation and information sharing; community-level, evidence-based psychotherapeutic counseling; and primary medical care and more advanced, specialized mental health services for more severe or complex cases. This paper is intended for individuals, organizations and governments interested in implementing mental health services. The primary aim is to provide a framework for the provision of widely accessible mental health care and services.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

The paper proposes the C4 framework, a task-shifting model for comprehensive, collaborative, community-based mental health care in low- and middle-income countries, with up to five worker categories and three levels of MHPSS. It is an aspirational design framework intended to guide planners, governments, and organizations rather than report empirical outcomes.

Key findings

  • The C4 Framework delineates up to five worker categories: Community Psychosocial Workers; Primary Health Care Providers; Primary Mental Health Counselors; Hospital-Based Care Providers; and Specialized Mental Health Services Providers, with complementary roles from basic psychoeducation to specialized mental health services.
  • It organizes MHPSS into three levels: brief psychosocial intervention delivered by Community Psychosocial Workers; evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions delivered by mental health counselors; and pharmacological interventions delivered by trained physicians, nurses, or psychiatrists.
  • It cites global service gaps: minimally adequate services in low- and lower middle-income countries were 3.7% for major depressive conditions, 2.3% for anxiety conditions, and 1.0% for substance use conditions, compared with 20.0%, 13.8%, and 10.3% in high-income countries; median mental health workers per 100,000 population were 1.4 in low-income countries and 3.8 in lower middle-income countries, versus 62.2 in high-income countries.
  • Training requirements include 3–7 days of didactic training plus 2–3 practice sessions and supervised practice for 5 or more sessions for Community Psychosocial Workers; 2–3 weeks of didactic instruction plus 6–12 months of supervised practice for Primary Mental Health Counselors; and 5–7 days of didactic training, or 3 days of mhGAP-HIG training in humanitarian settings, for Primary Health Care Providers.

Methods

  • Design: conceptual framework paper proposing the C4 framework for low-resource settings, drawing on the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Program, WHO’s Transforming Mental Health for All model, Inter-Agency Standing Committee materials, NGOs, and the authors’ collective global mental health experience.
  • Data or sample: no empirical sample, trial, or formal data collection; the paper describes worker roles, training logistics, resource requirements, and implementation issues.
  • Main analysis: narrative synthesis and expert-informed system design; the framework is described as aspirational and not yet fully implemented.

Limitations

  • Stated: the framework is aspirational and has not yet been fully implemented; in most places it will require substantially increased funding of the mental health sector above current levels.
  • Stated: implementation assumes health system willingness and human resources at specialist hospitals, and high local leadership and governance mechanisms, which are often lacking; COVID-19 disrupted in-person mental health services, and digital options remain limited by low digital literacy, low smartphone penetration, data costs, and limited internet connection.
  • Evident from the text: no empirical validation, outcome data, or C4-specific cost-effectiveness estimates are reported; the framework relies on expert opinion and existing models, and the authors note it is a basic framework for low-resource environments that may need local adaptation.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1017/gmh.2023.5

Cites

33 of 33 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Figure 1. Comprehensive, collaborative, and community-based care (C4) framework for LMICs.
Figure 1. Comprehensive, collaborative, and community-based care (C4) framework for LMICs.CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

38 Not checked yet · 26 Own interpretation · 3 No basis given

Verify all 46 references — free account
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 25
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 21
35 of 35
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Mental health issues of one family member affect all family members.

    “Mental health issues of one family member affect all family members.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The main mental health issues affecting children are often those of their parents.

    “While children are often the focus of programming, the main mental health issues affecting them are often those of their parents.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Women bear a disproportionate burden in parenting, supporting the family unit, and caring for relatives with chronic mental disorders.

    “Women bear a disproportionate burden in parenting and supporting the family unit, as well as caring for relatives with chronic mental disorders”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Peer-based models are particularly effective in marginalized or stigmatized populations.

    “Peer-based models are particularly effective in marginalized or stigmatized populations.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Psychological counseling skills are different from the typical advice-giving counseling skills of Primary Health Care Providers.

    “Also, psychological counseling skills are different from the typical advice-giving counseling skills of Primary Health Care Providers.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Primary Health Care Providers are usually the most highly trained available care providers and the primary source of pharmacologic treatments.

    “since they are usually the most highly trained available care providers and the primary source of pharmacologic treatments.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In many LMICs most Primary Health Care Providers are non-physicians with more limited primary care training.

    “In many LMICs most Primary Health Care Providers are non-physicians with more limited primary care training.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Most Primary Health Care Providers focus on physical health.

    “Most Primary Health Care Providers focus on physical health.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    High-resource environments can generally afford to train and support professional health and specialty mental health providers who spend much of their time dealing with problems that do not tax their expertise.

    “High-resource environments can generally afford to train and support professional health and specialty mental health providers who spend much of their time dealing with problems that do not tax their expertise.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Primary care physicians in HICs spend much of their time dealing with individuals who could just as well be treated by nurses or physician assistants.

    “An example is primary care physicians in HICs who spend much of their time dealing with individuals who could just as well be treated by nurses or physician assistants.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In LMICs, hospital-based mental health services are often limited to a few psychiatric hospitals in the capital or major cities.

    “In LMICs hospital-based mental health services are often limited to a few psychiatric hospitals in the capital or major cities”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Most patients needing psychiatric care cannot get to specialized hospitals.

    “Since most patients needing psychiatric care cannot get to specialized hospitals, this increases the typical quality of care by making psychiatric care more available and integrated into the health system.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Effective care requires multiple intervention sessions of an hour or more each.

    “while effective care requires multiple intervention sessions of an hour or more each.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Primary Health Care Providers are unlikely to commit to mental health care delivery unless care, support and supervision are available at a higher level of the system.

    “as Primary Health Care Providers are unlikely to commit to mental health care delivery unless care, support and supervision are available at a higher level of the system.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Specialized Mental Health Services Providers are not readily available to most LMIC populations, being few in number and usually working in large cities in private practice or psychiatric hospitals.

    “They are not readily available to most LMIC populations, being few in number and usually working in large cities in private practice or psychiatric hospitals.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In many countries psychologists do not receive significant clinical training and therefore are generally not able to provide evidence-based psychotherapeutic or psychosocial counseling.

    “In many countries psychologists do not receive significant clinical training and therefore are generally not able to provide evidence-based psychotherapeutic or psychosocial counseling.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In the early stages, symptoms are often transient and not suggestive of a particular condition.

    “In the early stages, symptoms are often transient and not suggestive of a particular condition.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Comorbidity is common.

    “Since comorbidity is common, interventions should be transdiagnostic, using a single, flexible approach to address a variety of conditions.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Families may not trust mental health services or fear using them due to stigma.

    “Families may not trust mental health services or fear using them due to stigma.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Engaging persons with lived experience as providers increases the interest and understanding of mental health by providers even prior to training.

    “This increases the interest and understanding of mental health by providers even prior to training.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Engaging persons with lived experience as providers enhances their credibility as mental health providers and makes them more approachable in the community.

    “It also enhances their credibility as mental health providers and makes them more approachable in the community.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Engaging persons with lived experience as providers themselves reduces stigma by challenging the common myth that they have reduced capacity to lead or take on responsible roles and more formal positions in their communities.

    “Engaging persons with lived experience as providers themselves also reduces stigma by challenging the common myth that they have reduced capacity to lead or take on responsible roles and more formal positions in their communities.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Persons with symptoms due to anemia and nutritional deficiencies can be misdiagnosed with depression when based solely on mental health assessments without a physical health assessment.

    “For example, persons with symptoms due to anemia and nutritional deficiencies can be misdiagnosed with depression when based solely on mental health assessments without a physical health assessment.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The model of care in which hospital-based mental health services are limited to a few psychiatric hospitals in the capital or major cities is too often associated with human rights violations.

    “which is a model of care too often associated with human rights violations.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Restrictive environments where individuals are locked or chained result in stigma and fear toward persons with severe mental health conditions.

    “This approach is required to reduce the use of restrictive environments where individuals are locked or chained, resulting in stigma and fear toward persons with severe mental health conditions.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Mental health workers are subject to significant stresses.

    “Mental health workers are subject to significant stresses and should not be harmed by their work.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Persons living with severe mental health conditions may be abandoned or receive poor care, including acute and chronic physical restraint.

    “Vulnerable to stigma and fear, persons living with severe mental health conditions may be abandoned or receive poor care, including acute and chronic physical restraint.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Individuals living with severe mental health problems are often the first to present to mental health programs.

    “Individuals living with these problems are often the first to present to mental health programs.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    People with intellectual disabilities and developmental disorders, and their families and caregivers, can benefit from psychoeducation, caregiver training, psychosocial support and referral offered by Community Psychosocial Workers.

    “While specific treatments for intellectual disabilities and developmental disorders may not be available, those affected as well as their families and caregivers can benefit from the psychoeducation, training for caregivers, psychosocial support and referral (to other services when needed) offered by Community Psychosocial Workers.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Most mental health problems can be addressed by locally trained individuals with sufficient supervision, and generally without requiring pharmacology or equipment.

    “Most mental health problems can be addressed by locally trained individuals with sufficient supervision, and generally without requiring pharmacology or equipment.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The major challenge is the lack of funding for mental health services commensurate with their importance in addressing mortality, morbidity and disability.

    “The major challenge is the lack of funding for mental health services commensurate with their importance in addressing mortality, morbidity and disability.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In many LMICs both general and specialty hospitals do not routinely have adequate services of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers or mental health nurses to carry out the designated roles outlined in the paper.

    “In many LMICs both general and specialty hospitals do not routinely have adequate services of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers or mental health nurses to carry out the designated roles outlined in this paper.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    High levels of local leadership and governance are often lacking in some places but present in others.

    “While high levels of local leadership and governance are often lacking in some places, they are present in others.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The incorporation of professional development is missing from most service models.

    “This incorporation of professional development is missing from most service models.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The WHO has recognized that substantial increases in global access to mental health services require a substantial increase in funding, and has consistently called for LMICs to substantially increase their funding for mental health services.

    “The WHO has recognized that substantial increases in global access to mental health services require a substantial increase in funding, and have consistently called for LMICs to substantially increase their funding for mental health services.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    What is effective and acceptable across populations, how to train each category of worker, and how to connect them and support them, have been explored in previous work.

    “What is effective and acceptable across populations, how to train each category of worker, and how to connect them and support them, have been explored in previous work.”
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Metadata

Authors
Bolton, P., West, J., Whitney, C., Jordans, M. J. D., Bass, J., Thornicroft, G., Murray, L., Snider, L., Eaton, J., Collins, P. Y., Ventevogel, P., Smith, S., Stein, D. J., Petersen, I., Silove, D., Ugo, V., Mahoney, J., el Chammay, R., Contreras, C., Eustache, E., Koyiet, P., Wondimu, E. H., Upadhaya, N., & Raviola, G.
Affiliations
  • United States Agency for International Development (US)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
  • International Medical Corps (US)
  • King's College London (GB)
  • University of Washington (US)
  • Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (CH)
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
  • South African Medical Research Council (ZA)
  • University of KwaZulu-Natal (ZA)
  • UNSW Sydney (AU)
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • Partners In Health (US)
  • World Vision International (GB)
  • International Rescue Committee (US)
  • HealthRight International (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Bolton, Paul
Venue
Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health
Published
2023
Volume
10
Pages
e16-e16
ISSN
2054-4251 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4322502293
Cited by
110
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 37 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 17
FWCI
31.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cambridge Prisms Global Mental Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • United States Agency for International Development
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research
  • South African Medical Research Council
  • Grand Challenges Canada
  • Medical Research Council (MR/S001255/1)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (P30MH123248)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Global Health Workforce Issues
Keywords
task shifting, mental health services, low- and middle-income countries, community-based care, comprehensive care, Mental Health Gap Action Programme, integration of mental health into primary care, psychoeducation, access to mental health care

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