A new Health in Action article published by Ugandan and American researchers in the journal PLOS Medicine reveals that the public and private sector partnership has successfully managed to address the mental health of the population living in the post-conflict regions of northern Uganda.
The authors, led by Etheldreda Nakimuli-Mpungu from the University of Makerere in Uganda, explain how the Peter C. Alderman Foundation (a US organization with a mission to heal the emotional wounds of victims of terrorism and mass violence in post-conflict countries) and Ugandan government institutions initiated a public-private partnership (PPP) to deliver low cost, evidence-based mental health care to traumatized populations in northern Uganda.
Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting approximately 340 million people in the world. No one is immune from depression - it occurs in people of all social classes, all countries and all cultural settings.
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The PPP leveraged its pooled resources, raising patient care to a level that neither of the partners could provide by working alone. The partnership also employed a systems approach to mental health care, wherein clinics could deliver uniform treatment that was locally adapted to each tribal culture.
The authors report that over a 6-year period (2005-2011), the partners established five psycho-trauma centers and people attending the clinics increased from 300 in 2007 to over 3,000 by June 2012.
![Depression Symptom Evaluation]( "Depression Symptom Evaluation")
Depression occurs due to alterations in the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.
The authors found that the most common diagnoses in people attending the clinics were depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, epilepsy, and alcohol and substance use. Women were significantly more likely to have depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and/or grief reaction, and men were more likely to suffer from alcohol and substance use disorders and/or major mental disorders (such as bipolar disorder and psychosis). Over a 6-month period, there was a reduction in the proportion of patients who had high depression and PTSD symptom scores with a concomitant increase in the proportion of patients with high function scores.
The authors say: "We believe that this partnership provides a model for integrating mental health care into the primary care system in low-and middle-income countries."
They continue: "Moreover, we believe it is replicable, and can be rolled out in other post-conflict countries facing similar public health problems."
Source: Eurekalert
Depression Symptom Evaluation
Depression occurs due to alterations in the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.
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The authors found that the most common diagnoses in people attending the clinics were depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, epilepsy, and alcohol and substance use. Women were significantly more likely to have depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and/or grief reaction, and men were more likely to suffer from alcohol and substance use disorders and/or major mental disorders (such as bipolar disorder and psychosis). Over a 6-month period, there was a reduction in the proportion of patients who had high depression and PTSD symptom scores with a concomitant increase in the proportion of patients with high function scores.
The authors say: "We believe that this partnership provides a model for integrating mental health care into the primary care system in low-and middle-income countries."
They continue: "Moreover, we believe it is replicable, and can be rolled out in other post-conflict countries facing similar public health problems."
Source: Eurekalert
Holistic Management for Depression
Depression is a common disorder and many worldwide suffer from depression. Early recognition of symptoms and signs of depression can help in taking a holistic approach to the management of depression.
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