What the study found
The study found that a co-developed, collaborative approach with continuous quality improvement supported the scale-up of a common mental health screening tool in district primary health care systems in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The authors also found that this approach was broadly favored by participants.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that scaling up an integrated primary mental health screening innovation requires capacity building among mid-level management. The study suggests that a collaborative programme built on continuous quality improvement may offer flexibility and communal problem-solving for more sustained implementation.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used a participatory action research approach and established a learning collaborative involving district mental health service coordinators, provincial managers and policymakers, and the local research team. They co-developed a capacity building programme through participatory workshops, implemented the screening tool and its processes iteratively, and assessed the process using workshop proceedings, individual interviews, and a focus group discussion.
What worked and what didn't
The participatory development and implementation process led to consensus building, curriculum development, situational analyses, training, and continuous quality improvement. The collaborative and co-development approach to the curriculum was broadly favored, but barriers included a lack of formal guidance documents, limited intersectoral collaboration, limited community mental health literacy, under-prioritization of mental health, lack of ring-fenced funding and data monitoring systems, and limited training opportunities for primary health care staff.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe a comparison group or quantify effects on patient outcomes. The findings are based on workshop proceedings, interviews, and one focus group in KwaZulu-Natal, and the summary notes that the COVID-19 period required adaptations, including virtual workshops and added programme changes.
Key points
- A co-developed, collaborative approach was used to scale up a common mental health screening tool in KwaZulu-Natal.
- Participants broadly favored the collaborative capacity-building programme.
- The process included consensus building, training, situational analyses, and continuous quality improvement.
- Barriers included weak guidance, limited collaboration, low mental health literacy, and insufficient funding and data systems.
- The programme adapted during COVID-19, including a shift to virtual workshops.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Collaborative scale-up supported primary mental health screening in KwaZulu-Natal
- Authors:
- André Janse van Rensburg, Zamasomi Luvuno, Tasneem Kathree, Nikiwe Hongo, Londiwe Mthethwa, Merridy Grant, Arvin Bhana, Deepa P. Rao, Inge Petersen
- Institutions:
- Africa Health Research Institute, Center for Global Health, Curtin University, Edendale Hospital, South African Medical Research Council, Umkhuseli Innovation and Research Management, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-05
- OpenAlex record:
- View
- Image credit:
- LIVE AT BFN MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
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