Strategies for supporting the implementation of a task-shared psychological intervention in South Africa’s chronic disease services: qualitative insights from health managers’ experiences of project MIND

Figures & data

Table 1. Context appropriate implementation strategy for MIND psychological counselling in primary care.

Implementation approach	Facility level	Community level
1. Service planning	Identify key actors: • Counsellors • Heads of departments • Mental health nurses • Social workers	Map community actors: • Health committee • NPOs and/or religious organisations • Department of Social Development (social workers)
	Consult with key actors on: • Space for counselling • Appointment times	Communicate with key actors on: • Possible referrals • Community venues for counselling
2. Orientation and training	Subdistrict facility manager meetings • Challenges and approaches for this new service	Health Committee Meeting • Introduction to the service • Introduction to counsellors • Printed/social media introducing service
	Staff meeting: • Introduction to service • Mental health and wellness check-in with staff • Mental health reorientation for all staff
	Heads of department meeting: • Present benefits of programme • Present roles and responsibilities, referral pathways
	Training workshops: • Counselling skills training for counsellors, mental health nurses, and social workers (doctors and other nurses)
	Introducing service to community: • Waiting room talks • Printed and social media
3. Monitoring	Monitoring meetings • Clinical and MDT meetings • Feedback and follow-up as needed	Health Committee Meetings • Standing agenda point • Feedback to facility manager • Referrals to NPOs and feedback • Patient feedback through suggestions box and to health committee
	Staff meetings • Standing agenda point for feedback and discussion on programme
	Monitoring statistics and reporting • Targets for counselling sessions • Feeding into monthly and annual reports (facility and NPO)