Impact of simple conventional and Telehealth solutions on improving mental health in Afghanistan.

Impact of simple conventional and Telehealth solutions on improving mental health in Afghanistan. J Telemed Telecare. 2016 Dec;22(8):495-498 Authors: Khoja S, Scott R, Husyin N, Durrani H, Arif M, Faqiri F, Hedayat E, Yousufzai W Abstract For more than a century Afghanistan has been unstable, facing decades of war, social problems, and intense poverty. As a result, many of the population suffer from a variety of mental health problems. The Government recognises the situation and has prioritised mental health, but progress is slow and services outside of Kabul remain poor. An international collaborative implemented a project in Badakshan province of Afghanistan using conventional and simple low-cost e-Health solutions to address the four most common issues: depression, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse. Conventional town hall meetings informed community members to raise awareness and knowledge. In addition, an android-based mobile application used the World Health Organization's Mental Health Gap Action Programme guidelines and protocols to: collect information from community healthcare workers; provide referral services to patients; provide blended learning to improve providers' mental health knowledge, skills, and practice; and to provide store-and-forward and live consultations. Preliminary evaluation of the intervention shows enhanced access to care for remote communities, decreased stigma, and improve...
Source: Rural Remote Health - Category: Rural Health Authors: Tags: J Telemed Telecare Source Type: research