A unique combination of digital healthcare and community campaigns has been shown to reduce the risk of depression, anxiety and self-harm in rural India.

This study program, developed by researchers at The George Institute for Global Health in New Delhi, has contributed to reducing the stigma associated with mental health.

Mental health is a serious global challenge, especially in India, where approximately 150 million people need treatment, but only a few receive adequate care. The shortage of mental health professionals is especially seen in rural areas.

To address this issue, the Systematic Medical Assessment, Referral and Treatment (SMART) Mental Health Program was launched to train rural health workers in basic mental health care and implement innovative service delivery methods.

The study screened nearly 1,70,000 adults for depression in West Godavari, Faridabad and Palwal districts of Andhra Pradesh and Haryana.

Of those screened, 9,900 participants were part of a year-long trial that used two main strategies: a community campaign aimed at reducing stigma and a campaign targeting individuals at high risk of mental disorders. A digital health care initiative.

The test results were shocking:

• The intervention resulted in a significant reduction in the risk of depression among participants, with a cure rate of 75% achieving full recovery, compared to only 50% in the control group.
• The study found a significant increase in knowledge and attitudes related to mental health, as well as a reduction in the stigma associated with seeking help.

Pallab Maulik, research director, The George Institute India, said, “This research is an important milestone in mental health care, highlighting the profound impact of our dual intervention approach.”

Mercian Daniel, senior research fellow at the institute, highlighted the importance of training and support for community health workers, which played a key role in the success of the programme.

“By providing regular supervision to ASHAs (community health workers) and primary health care doctors, we can identify and manage common mental disorders,” Daniel told IndiaToday.in.

Talking about the study, the expert said, “The data relate to the results of two interventions carried out over 1 year. People with depression, anxiety, suicide risk and alcohol and substance abuse (general mental related to intervention before identification.” Disorder), depression was significantly reduced in those at risk and showed improvement compared with those who did not receive the intervention.”

Second, he said, people exposed to the programme’s stigma reduction campaigns significantly improved their knowledge and attitudes towards mental health conditions.

Smart mental health programs can largely address the lack of awareness and provide an alternative service provision model using the existing health system, ultimately bridging the huge gap in treatment of mental illness in rural India.

The programme’s digital tools, including algorithms for diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, were particularly well received by primary health care doctors and ASHA workers, who felt empowered by their ability to use these technologies effectively. Used to do.

As mental health remains a serious concern globally, this innovative approach in rural India shows the potential of digital health solutions to support the country’s national mental health program and address the mental illness treatment gap .

These findings also align with WHO and the Lancet Commission’s call for new strategies to tackle mental health disorders worldwide, emphasizing the adaptability of these strategies to low- and middle-income countries.