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Global mental health (Cambridge, England)
2023;10 e40.

Exploring potential mental health spillover effects among caregivers and partners of youth in Sierra Leone: A qualitative study.

Alethea Desrosiers, Carolyn Schafer, Laura Bond, Adeyinka Akinsulure-Smith, Miriam Hinton, Alpha Vandi, Theresa S Betancourt
Author Information
  1. Alethea Desrosiers: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. ORCID
  2. Carolyn Schafer: Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
  3. Laura Bond: Boston College School of Social Work, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
  4. Adeyinka Akinsulure-Smith: Department of Psychology, City College of New York, NY, USA.
  5. Miriam Hinton: Caritas Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
  6. Alpha Vandi: Caritas Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
  7. Theresa S Betancourt: Boston College School of Social Work, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
PMID: 37854398 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2023.36

Abstract

Given the large mental health treatment gap in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in post-conflict settings like Sierra Leone, and the limited healthcare infrastructure, understanding the wider benefits of evidence-based mental health interventions within households is critical. This study explored potential mental health spillover effects - the phenomenon of beneficial effects among nonparticipants - among cohabitating caregivers and partners of youth who participated in an evidence-based mental health intervention in Sierra Leone. We recruited a sub-sample of cohabitating caregivers and partners ( = 20) of youth intervention participants; caregivers had enrolled in a larger study investigating indirect benefits of the evidence-based intervention in Sierra Leone (MH117359). Qualitative interviews were conducted at two time points to explore the following: (a) potential mental health spillover effects and (b) through which mechanisms spillover may have occurred. Two trained coders reviewed transcripts and analyzed qualitative data, assisted by MaxQDA. Qualitative findings suggested that spillover effects likely occurred and supported three potential mechanisms: decreased caregiving burden, behavior changes among Youth Readiness Intervention participants and improved interpersonal relationships. Mental health spillover effects may occur following youth intervention participation in a post-conflict LMIC. Investing in evidence-based services may offer indirect benefits that extend beyond those directly receiving services.

Keywords

caregiver global mental health interventions low-income countries public health

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Grants

  1. R01 MH117359/NIMH NIH HHS
Journal Article

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