Integrating mental health care in HIV programs in Imo State, Nigeria using a collaborative care model
Charlotte Nwogwugwu, DrPH
School of Nursing
This project will integrate mental health care into HIV programs in Imo State, Nigeria using the WHO mhGAP-IG-based collaborative model that builds on existing clinical infrastructure. The goal of this project will include training clinicians in HIV clinics covering five modules: Essential Care and Practice, Depression, Psychosis, Substance Use Disorders and Suicide Prevention among PLWHA. The trainees will include community health extension workers (CHEWs), nurses and doctors who will be trained to screen, assess, and treat PLWHA for comorbid mental disorders. It will also establish consultation, referral, supervision framework with mental health specialists that will utilize mobile technology and telehealth for virtual clinical support, supervision, and continuing education. Each participating clinic will have access to at least one supervising psychiatrist/mental health specialist and will hold once-a-month virtual clinical supervisory meeting and as-needed clinical consultation/referral. It will obtain implementation data including acceptability, adoption, feasibility, fidelity, implementation costs and sustainment.