Dialogue to Empower Traditional and Faith Healers to Deliver mhGAP-IG Adapted Psychosocial Interventions in Kenya

This study seeks to empower, supervise, support and include the informal traditional and faith healers to deliver evidence-based mhGAP-IG adapted psychosocial interventions to reduce mental health treatment gap in Kenya. This will be achieved through establishing a dialogue and collaboration between the formal and the informal sector and training the informal sector on the use of mental health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guideline (mhGAP-IG) to identify and manage depression. It will take place in Makueni County among 100 randomly selected TH/FH. A descriptive (prospective cohort) study will be used to determine the impact of training TH/FH on the use of mhGAP-IG in the identification and management of depression. A mental health specialist will also determine the accuracy of diagnosis made by the informal sector using randomly selected patients (true positives and true negatives for depression) by an independent person. Moreover, patients identified to have depression will be followed up at 6 and 12 weeks to assess their health outcomes using BECKs Depression Inventory Scale, Suicidality Scale and WHO quality of life.

Inclusion criteria

• Traditional and faith healers residing in Kibwezi West constituency
• Traditional and faith healers who are willing to participate in the study.
• Traditional and faith healers' patients' above 18 years who agree to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Traditional and faith healers not residing in Kibwezi West constituency
• Traditional and faith healers who are not willing to participate in the study.
• Traditional and faith healers' patients' above 18 years who do not agree to sign an informed consent