Training Lay Providers for Mental Health Interventions

Training Lay Providers for Mental Health Interventions

Introduction

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.

Objective and Methods

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.

Results

The results were promising:

• High Fidelity and Quality: The ratings for fidelity and quality measures, including delivering required content and skillfulness, were excellent.
• Positive Feedback: Lay providers gave overwhelmingly positive ratings for the training, with an overall satisfaction score of 6.46 out of 7.
• Personal Growth: Many lay providers reported personal growth alongside positive comments about the training style, content, and personal interactions.

Discussion and Conclusions

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.

Implications and Future Research

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