A call for action: Guidelines for implementation of mental health services at the community level.
- 1Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Abstract
Background
Mental health challenges account for approximately 18% of global disease burden. Few people with mental health challenges receive the required treatment, especially at community level. Implementation of mental health services at the community level is vital.Aim
The study aimed to explore and describe the content for inclusion in the guidelines for the implementation of mental health services in the Ward-Based Primary Health Care Outreach Teams (WBPHCOTs) services in South Africa.Setting
Data was collected in subdistrict one offices from the experts in mental health services and WBPHCOTs working in Tshwane District, Gauteng province, South Africa.Methods
A qualitative, explorative and descriptive design that followed a Nominal Group Technique (NGT) for data collection. Eleven experts were purposively sampled for participation in the study. The NGT process was followed: silent generation of ideas, round robin, group discussion and clarification process. Finally, ranking of ideas and group consensus was reached.Results
The following content was identified for inclusion in the guidelines: visits to households, collaboration with mental health key stakeholders, training, mental health prevention and promotion, adherence to treatment and advocacy, mental health professionals' support, and strengthening community mental health services.Conclusion
The study assisted in identifying the content to be included in the guidelines for the implementation of mental health services in the WBPHCOTs' services.Contribution
This study provides the content that could be included in the development of the guidelines for the implementation of mental health services in the WBPHCOTs services, with the anticipated contribution to the improvement in the implementation of mental health services at community level.
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BibTeX
@article{thobane2026call,
title = {{A call for action: Guidelines for implementation of mental health services at the community level.}},
author = {Khalaeng F Thobane and Fhumulani M Mulaudzi and Ndivhaleni R Lavhelani and Rodwell Gundo},
journal = {Health SA = SA Gesondheid},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.4102/hsag.v31i0.3287},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43010955},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A call for action: Guidelines for implementation of mental health services at the community level.
AU - Khalaeng F Thobane
AU - Fhumulani M Mulaudzi
AU - Ndivhaleni R Lavhelani
AU - Rodwell Gundo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/31
JO - Health SA = SA Gesondheid
DO - 10.4102/hsag.v31i0.3287
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43010955
AB - Background Mental health challenges account for approximately 18% of global disease burden. Few people with mental health challenges receive the required treatment, especially at community level. Implementation of mental health services at the community level is vital.Aim The study aimed to explore and describe the content for inclusion in the guidelines for the implementation of mental health services in the Ward-Based Primary Health Care Outreach Teams (WBPHCOTs) services in South Africa.Setting Data was collected in subdistrict one offices from the experts in mental health services and WBPHCOTs working in Tshwane District, Gauteng province, South Africa.Methods A qualitative, explorative and descriptive design that followed a Nominal Group Technique (NGT) for data collection. Eleven experts were purposively sampled for participation in the study. The NGT process was followed: silent generation of ideas, round robin, group discussion and clarification process. Finally, ranking of ideas and group consensus was reached.Results The following content was identified for inclusion in the guidelines: visits to households, collaboration with mental health key stakeholders, training, mental health prevention and promotion, adherence to treatment and advocacy, mental health professionals' support, and strengthening community mental health services.Conclusion The study assisted in identifying the content to be included in the guidelines for the implementation of mental health services in the WBPHCOTs' services.Contribution This study provides the content that could be included in the development of the guidelines for the implementation of mental health services in the WBPHCOTs services, with the anticipated contribution to the improvement in the implementation of mental health services at community level.
SN - 1025-9848
SN - 2071-9736
ER -