Centre for Research in Health systems

In the context of widespread, poor mental health literacy, and the well-known gap in community-based mental health screening systems for children and adolescents in South Africa, we aim to develop a tool for use at community level to promote child and adolescent (ages 6-18), and caregiver mental health literacy, and facilitate appropriate linkage to care in South Africa. Formative exploratory research into the mental health-related lived experiences, attitudes, and perceptions of caregivers and adolescents previously diagnosed and treated with a mental health condition is used to inform the contextual relevance of the content, context and utilization of the tool. The co-developed Community Mental health Psychoeducation and Detection tool for children and adolescents (CMED-C) will i) Provide a tool for detection of probable mental health conditions; ii) Provide psychoeducation about symptoms as well as mental health promotion and education as it relates to mental health promoting lifestyles and behaviours including basic parenting skills for caregivers; and iii) Signpost presumptive cases and caregivers to available mental health and psychosocial services, including informal and professional counselling services in the community as well as medical interventions where necessary. The CMED-C will be evaluated to determine accuracy and feasibility including acceptability and appropriateness of delivery of the tool by community health worker teams, and integration with the existing services they provide. The study will also assess the potential efficacy of the CMED-C in promoting help seeking by recipients. Informed by the accuracy and feasibility of the CMED-C study, CMED-C tool and implementation package will be co-refined with stakeholders.