39. An intervention to improve mental health care for conflict-affected forced migrants in low-resource primary care settings: a WHO MhGAP-based pilot study in Sri Lanka (COM-GAP study) (2013)

By Chesmal Siriwardhana*, Anushka Adikari, Tine Van Bortel, Paul McCrone and Athula Sumathipala

* Corresponding author: Chesmal Siriwardhana - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Background

Inadequacy in mental health care in low and middle income countries has been an important contributor to the rising global burden of disease. The treatment gap is salient in resource-poor settings, especially when providing care for conflict-affected forced migrant populations. Primary care is often the only available service option for the majority of forced migrants, and integration of mental health into primary care is a difficult task.

The proposed pilot study aims to explore the feasibility of integrating mental health care into primary care by providing training to primary care practitioners serving displaced populations, in order to improve identification, treatment, and referral of patients with common mental disorders via the World Health Organization Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP).

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.trialsjournal.com/content/14/1/423