Abstract
Community-engaged initiatives are recognized as promising strategies for addressing disparities in mental health outcomes in resource-constrained settings. An understanding of the scope/effectiveness of these initiatives in diverse contexts remains limited. Our international team systematically examined community-engaged mental health and wellbeing programs in Low-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and under-resourced settings in High-Income Countries (HICs), evaluating level of community engagement and impact on mental health outcomes.
Five academic databases were searched for eligible primary studies published in English up to August 2024. Studies involving community members targeting one or more mental health outcomes were included. Data were extracted using a structured tool, quality appraised using validated tools, and synthesized using the Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) framework.
Thirty-five studies (24 LMICs and 11 HICs) reported on 29 initiatives, categorized by community involvement (low, medium, high, community-led). Low-engagement programs (n=2) showed positive participant experiences without significant mental health improvements. Medium-engagement programs (n=11) involving community consultation, reduced clinical mental health symptoms (e.g. Friendship Bench Program). High-engagement programs (n=9), characterized by substantial collaboration with communities, demonstrated significant improvement in clinical mental health symptoms and personal-recovery indicators such as enhanced social inclusion (e.g. Talking Wellness initiative). Community-led programs (n=10) delivered the most culturally relevant and sustained impacts, with initiatives like the Women’s Circle significantly improving wellbeing, although mental health symptom reduction was variable. Low-medium-engagement programs require additional effort to ensure cultural relevance/feasibility. A lack of involvement of people with lived experience of mental health challenges and social inequity was noted.
It was concluded that higher community engagement improves the effectiveness/sustainability of mental health initiatives, with community-led programs achieving the most significant impacts. These findings have implications for community health and mental health nurses collaborating with communities to foster culturally relevant initiatives. Future research should focus on sustainable programs and include individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges/social inequities.
Notes
Reference list included in separate file.
Sigma Membership
Xi Omicron at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Systematic Review
Research Approach
Mixed/Multi Method Research
Keywords:
Public and Community Health, Stress and Coping, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Evidence-based Practice
Recommended Citation
Chutiyami, Muhammad; Cutler, Natalie; Sangon, Sopin; Thaweekoon, Tusana; Nintachan, Patcharin; Napa, Wilai; Kraithaworn, Phachongchit; and River, Jo, "Do Community-Engaged Initiatives Promote Mental Health and Well-Being in Under-Resourced Settings?" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 178.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/178
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-03
Do Community-Engaged Initiatives Promote Mental Health and Well-Being in Under-Resourced Settings?
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Community-engaged initiatives are recognized as promising strategies for addressing disparities in mental health outcomes in resource-constrained settings. An understanding of the scope/effectiveness of these initiatives in diverse contexts remains limited. Our international team systematically examined community-engaged mental health and wellbeing programs in Low-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and under-resourced settings in High-Income Countries (HICs), evaluating level of community engagement and impact on mental health outcomes.
Five academic databases were searched for eligible primary studies published in English up to August 2024. Studies involving community members targeting one or more mental health outcomes were included. Data were extracted using a structured tool, quality appraised using validated tools, and synthesized using the Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) framework.
Thirty-five studies (24 LMICs and 11 HICs) reported on 29 initiatives, categorized by community involvement (low, medium, high, community-led). Low-engagement programs (n=2) showed positive participant experiences without significant mental health improvements. Medium-engagement programs (n=11) involving community consultation, reduced clinical mental health symptoms (e.g. Friendship Bench Program). High-engagement programs (n=9), characterized by substantial collaboration with communities, demonstrated significant improvement in clinical mental health symptoms and personal-recovery indicators such as enhanced social inclusion (e.g. Talking Wellness initiative). Community-led programs (n=10) delivered the most culturally relevant and sustained impacts, with initiatives like the Women’s Circle significantly improving wellbeing, although mental health symptom reduction was variable. Low-medium-engagement programs require additional effort to ensure cultural relevance/feasibility. A lack of involvement of people with lived experience of mental health challenges and social inequity was noted.
It was concluded that higher community engagement improves the effectiveness/sustainability of mental health initiatives, with community-led programs achieving the most significant impacts. These findings have implications for community health and mental health nurses collaborating with communities to foster culturally relevant initiatives. Future research should focus on sustainable programs and include individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges/social inequities.
Description
This presentation explores the impact of community-engaged initiatives on mental health/wellbeing in under-resourced settings, drawing on a systematic review of 35 studies. Programs are categorized by community engagement: low, medium, high, & community-led. Findings reveal that higher engagement delivers better outcomes, such as reduced clinical symptoms, with community-led programs showing greater sustainability. This demonstrates the importance of engaging communities in mental health care.