Community-Engaged Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives in Under-Resourced Settings: A Scoping Review of Primary Studies

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-I...

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Main Authors: Muhammad Chutiyami, Natalie Cutler, Sopin Sangon, Tusana Thaweekoon, Patcharin Nintachan, Wilai Napa, Phachongchit Kraithaworn, Jo River
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319251332723
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author Muhammad Chutiyami
Natalie Cutler
Sopin Sangon
Tusana Thaweekoon
Patcharin Nintachan
Wilai Napa
Phachongchit Kraithaworn
Jo River
author_facet Muhammad Chutiyami
Natalie Cutler
Sopin Sangon
Tusana Thaweekoon
Patcharin Nintachan
Wilai Napa
Phachongchit Kraithaworn
Jo River
author_sort Muhammad Chutiyami
collection DOAJ
description 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 .
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spelling doaj-art-4ad6ca8884564f1aa23fd9ec007778092025-08-20T01:48:29ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Primary Care & Community Health2150-13272025-04-011610.1177/21501319251332723Community-Engaged Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives in Under-Resourced Settings: A Scoping Review of Primary StudiesMuhammad Chutiyami0Natalie Cutler1Sopin Sangon2Tusana Thaweekoon3Patcharin Nintachan4Wilai Napa5Phachongchit Kraithaworn6Jo River7School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, AustraliaNorthern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, AustraliaRamathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, ThailandRamathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, ThailandRamathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, ThailandRamathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, ThailandRamathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, ThailandFaculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, AustraliaIntroduction: 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 .https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319251332723
spellingShingle Muhammad Chutiyami
Natalie Cutler
Sopin Sangon
Tusana Thaweekoon
Patcharin Nintachan
Wilai Napa
Phachongchit Kraithaworn
Jo River
Community-Engaged Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives in Under-Resourced Settings: A Scoping Review of Primary Studies
Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
title Community-Engaged Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives in Under-Resourced Settings: A Scoping Review of Primary Studies
title_full Community-Engaged Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives in Under-Resourced Settings: A Scoping Review of Primary Studies
title_fullStr Community-Engaged Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives in Under-Resourced Settings: A Scoping Review of Primary Studies
title_full_unstemmed Community-Engaged Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives in Under-Resourced Settings: A Scoping Review of Primary Studies
title_short Community-Engaged Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives in Under-Resourced Settings: A Scoping Review of Primary Studies
title_sort community engaged mental health and wellbeing initiatives in under resourced settings a scoping review of primary studies
url https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319251332723
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