Source data - characteristics Scoping PS groups.xlsx.xlsx

This is data from a scoping review that was conducted. The methods for this review are summarised here: 

The aim of this study is to synthesise current evidence related to use of psycho-social groups as part of community-based mental health interventions in South Asia using a realist lens with specific research questions as follows:

(i) What types of psycho-social, group directed mental health interventions are being delivered by community mental health workers in South Asia? 

(ii) What outcomes do they deliver and how are they measured? 

(iii) What are possible mechanisms that trigger positive outcomes? What constrains positive outcomes?

Framing the scoping review

Our focus was group interventions that are targeted primarily at adults from different family groups with a component designed to accomplish at least one of the following:

- prevent or treat mental health problem/s; 

- support people who live with mental health problems and their carers; 

- improve resilience in the face of mental health problems.

We proposed that interventions should have a clear psychosocial component. While interventions could be short, and engage with existing groups, they should involve multiple sessions. Group interventions could also be part of larger interventions with individual, family, or screening components. The detailed exclusion criteria are provided in the supplementary material.  

Sample: Adults living in the community and affected by mental health problems. We included both studies of people with mental health problems and of those who care for them. Interventions should be carried out in, and benefit citizens of, the SAARC. Interventions who targeted both adults and young people (aged 14 and above) were also included. 

Phenomenon of Interest: Psychosocial group interventions with a stated intention to support mental health in SAARC countries that are delivered by community workers or primary care health workers. Those workers should have no tertiary level training in medicine, social work, psychology, or one of the allied health professions, and they should not be training in a tertiary setting. However, these workers may be regarded as experts by their community and may have undergone rigorous apprenticeships in traditional forms of health/ medicine and physical, mental, and spiritual care provision.

A minimal description of the intervention should be available, covering who delivered it, what the content of the intervention was, and at whom the intervention was aimed.

Design: Study protocols, implementation studies, qualitative studies, experience reports, evaluations, case studies, randomised controlled trials

Evaluation: Studies should report, or, in the case of study protocols, specify quantitative or qualitative outcomes of the intervention. Reports of implemented interventions should also mention barriers to and facilitators of success. 

Research type: mixed methods, quantitative research, qualitative research, study protocol, experience report

Ethics was not required as the data presented in this data set was all secondary date.