DiscussionFrom the data collected in this feasibility study, the research team will continue to collaborate withstakeholders in Sierra Leone to enhance the psychosocial skills of mental health workers throughadaptation of the intervention model and development of a training programme.

Connecting People Intervention International Feasibility Study

Martin Webber and Meredith Newlin

International Centre for Mental Health Social ResearchDepartment of Social Policy and Social Work

Elizabeth HughesDepartment of Health Sciences

BackgroundLike many post-conflict societies, Sierra Leone lackscapacity in its health and social care workforce.Where an estimated 13 per cent of the adultpopulation suffers from a mental disorder and thereexists only one trained psychiatrist for a populationover 4 million, the mental health treatment gap isgreat.

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of adaptinga UK psychosocial intervention model to meet thesemental health needs.

MethodologyIn July University of York Research Fellow, Meredith Newlin, visited Sierra Leoneto conduct interviews, focus groups and observations in a variety of mentalhealth service settings and with a number of key stakeholders. Interviewresponses and observation notes from multiple sources were triangulated usingthe comparative method of grounded theory.

Current Treatment gap for people with mental health problems in Sierra Leone

Source: 2012 WHO MIND Profiles on Mental Health in Development

Building of trusting relationships between the health workerand service user

Deepening connections in the community, particularly withfamily members

Enhancing public awareness of mental health therebyminimising stigma

Traditional beliefs of mental illness impacting perceptions ofrecovery

Mental health training for Community Health Officers in Bo Hospital

ResultsTraining in psychosocialapproaches is greatly neededboth at district and communitylevels in order to strengthen thecare available to adults withmental health problems.Feedback from stakeholders onthe adaptation of an interventionmodel was positive, highlightingspecific elements of social capitalwithin the cultural context:

Advocacy posters developed byCommunity Association forPsychosocial Services (CAPS)

Psychiatric Nurse Training at EU-fundedEnabling Access to Mental Health (EAMH)