Community-Engaged Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives in Under-Resourced Settings: A Scoping Review of Primary Studies
4
Issued Date
2025-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
21501319
eISSN
21501327
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105003503810
Journal Title
Journal of Primary Care and Community Health
Volume
16
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Primary Care and Community Health Vol.16 (2025)
Suggested Citation
Chutiyami M., Cutler N., Sangon S., Thaweekoon T., Nintachan P., Napa W., Kraithaworn P., River J. Community-Engaged Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives in Under-Resourced Settings: A Scoping Review of Primary Studies. Journal of Primary Care and Community Health Vol.16 (2025). doi:10.1177/21501319251332723 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/109927
Title
Community-Engaged Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives in Under-Resourced Settings: A Scoping Review of Primary Studies
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Introduction: Community-engaged initiatives are identified as promising to improve the health of communities with limited resources. This review aims to examine community-engaged mental health/wellbeing initiatives across Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) and under-resourced settings of High-Income Countries (HIC). Methods: We searched CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases to identify eligible primary studies until August 2024. Studies conducted in English language, involving community members in the initiatives’ design or implementation and targeting 1 or more mental health/wellbeing outcomes, were included. Results: About 35 studies (n = 35) reporting 29 mental health/wellbeing initiatives across LMIC-(n = 24) and HIC-(n = 11) were included. Programmes with high community engagement, including community-led initiatives, consistently reported positive mental health and well-being outcomes, including reduced clinical symptoms and enhanced personal recovery and wellbeing. However, mixed outcomes on initiatives’ impact on quality of life and diagnosed mental health conditions were evident. Various challenges, including cultural barriers, were noted, as was a lack of involvement of people with lived experience of mental health challenges. Conclusion: Community-engaged mental health and wellbeing initiatives in under-resourced settings have shown the potential to improve mental health outcomes and well-being when actively involving community members. Future work should focus on scalable initiatives and active inclusion of people with lived experience of mental health challenges. Review protocol registration at https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/367BK.