In the realm of mental health, leveraging the skills of lay providers is increasingly recognized as both effective and cost-efficient. Our study focused on documenting the training and supervision procedures in a randomized controlled trial of the Shamiri intervention, a potent four-session, school-based intervention that significantly ameliorated symptoms of anxiety and depression among Kenyan adolescents.
In the realm of mental health, leveraging the skills of lay providers is increasingly recognized as both effective and cost-efficient. Our study focused on documenting the training and supervision procedures in a randomized controlled trial of the Shamiri intervention, a potent four-session, school-based intervention that significantly ameliorated symptoms of anxiety and depression among Kenyan adolescents.
The primary objective was to train lay providers efficiently and gather their feedback on the process. We conducted a 10-hour training session for 13 lay providers, followed by bi-weekly 30-minute supervision meetings. A team of undergraduates primarily delivered this training and supervision. The lay providers' performance was evaluated based on session recordings, and their feedback was collected through quantitative and qualitative means.
The results were promising:
The study offers preliminary evidence that a brief training, primarily conducted by undergraduates, can effectively equip high school graduates to deliver impactful mental health interventions. This approach aligns with the growing need to make mental health care more accessible and scalable, especially in low-resource settings.
The findings underline the significance of tailoring training and supervision to the local context and continuously incorporating lay provider feedback. The study sets the stage for further exploration in this domain and the
Begin your journey to better mental health with Shamiri Health: simple, effective, accessible.
Download RafiPersonalized wellness report
30-day free for you & your whole team