Task-sharing strategies for mental health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often face implementation challenges, but existing measures typically focus on a single aspect or stakeholder and lack validation in LMIC contexts. There is a need for a reliable, multi-dimensional tool to assess barriers and facilitators across multiple stakeholders.
The BeFITS-MH study developed and is validating a comprehensive measure to assess acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness, and cost of task-sharing mental health interventions from the perspectives of clients, providers, and administrators. Piloting, translation, cognitive interviewing, and data collection have been conducted in multiple sites in South Africa and other LMICs, with longitudinal follow-up to evaluate psychometric properties and practical utility.
BeFITS-MH provides a rigorously tested tool to guide the implementation of task-sharing mental health programs. By identifying barriers and facilitators across stakeholders, it helps optimize interventions, improve program fidelity and reach, and strengthen mental health service delivery in LMIC settings.
Mental health
Task sharing
