Stakeholder perspectives of a co-produced intervention to integrate mental health for children and youth within the community sub-system in South Africa

Purpose

This study evaluated the process of integrating child and youth mental health to existing psychosocial support in disadvantaged South African communities.

Methods

Four child practitioners of the host organization attended a Train-of-Trainer programme. They subsequently co-produced an intervention informed by a service transformation framework along five service domains. Implementation involved 368 community participants. A sub-sample of 43 participants were engaged in focus groups on their experiences. Data were analysed through thematic analysis.

Results

Established themes were inter-linked and transcended the five intervention domains. Engagement and conceptualization of mental health through awareness were viewed as pre-requisites to application of new knowledge. This should be supported by systemic changes, predominantly community mobilization and integrated care. Knowledge transfer involving collaboration between services and communities would enable sustainability of impact. The findings led to the formulation of a Theory of Change.

Conclusions

Integration of child and youth mental health through a cascade approach that actively involves communities in co-production and delivery can enhance service provision in resource-constrained Majority World contexts.