Abstract
Background: More than one billion people worldwide are living with mental health conditions, with anxiety and depressive disorders now among the leading causes of disability globally (World Health Organization [WHO], 2025). Despite this growing burden, mental health services remain inaccessible for many underserved communities due to stigma, provider shortages, and fragmented care systems. Nurse-led community-based programs have shown promise in improving early detection, reducing symptom severity, and strengthening local support networks. This global action plan elucidates a pilot community-based mental health support program aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 3, 10, 16, and 17.
Objective: The purpose of this pilot project is to design, implement, and evaluate a six-month nurse-led community mental health support program aimed at improving access to screening, brief intervention, referral pathways, and mental health literacy within underserved populations.
Methods: The action plan includes a five-phase implementation process: (a) conducting a needs assessment, (b) forming a multidisciplinary steering committee, (c) implementing screening and brief intervention services across sites, (d) delivering culturally tailored literacy and stigma-reduction education, and (e) evaluating the program using metrics such as utilization rates, symptom changes, and participant satisfaction. Health workers will be trained to provide evidence-based interventions, including mental health/psychological first aid and brief cognitive-behavioral strategies.
Results (Expected): The pilot is expected to increase access to mental health services for approximately 500 individuals, enhance mental health literacy, and reduce stigma while building community capacity.
Conclusions: This action plan offers a scalable, evidence-informed model for improving mental health access and equity. Nursing leadership and interdisciplinary partnerships can play a central role in advancing sustainable community mental health innovations.
Sigma Membership
Epsilon Theta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document, Video Recording
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice
Keywords:
Mental Health, Underserved Populations, Community Mental Health, Global Mental Health Crisis, Mental Health Screening, Mental Health Literacy, Sustained Development Goals
Recommended Citation
Eguavoen, Joy, "Mitigating Global Mental Health Shortfall: An Advocacy Action Plan for Recovery with Community Healthcare" (2025). Global Advocacy. 19.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/ga_series/19
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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
None: Event Material, Invited Presentation
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-15
Full Text of Presentation
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