Task Sharing and Transdiagnostic Skills Mapping
Task sharing is a common approach for mental health care delivery in settings with limited human resources for mental health care. Useful tools highlighted in this section include guidance for developing CHW programming, the 5 x 5 Task-Sharing Pyramid, and the complementary skills package mapping template for assessing tasks and skillsets necessary for delivering quality mental health care.
Skills Package Mapping
The skills package mapping template organizes the different tasks and who in a community-based mental healthcare system is responsible for providing those services.
5 x 5 Task-Sharing Pyramid
The following paper outlines the “pyramid of care” approach that specifies five key skill packages and implementation rules to address common mental health conditions in low-resource environments. The framework, born out of experiences in Haiti at Zanmi Lasante, addresses the need for shared vocabulary and a set of tools to coordinate and compare efforts to scale-up mental health treatment across diverse settings.
Skills Package Mapping Template
The skills package mapping template organizes the different tasks and depicts who in a community-based mental healthcare system is responsible for providing those services based on the “pyramid of care” listed above. It can be adapted to country-specific systems.
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More Examples of Skills Package Mapping
Haiti Skills Package Mapping
The skills package mapping template was initially piloted in Haiti as described above. The template helped the mental health team optimize tasks within existing staff and inform human resources needed for programmatic growth.
Haiti Template
Lesotho Skills Package Mapping
The PIH Lesotho team adapted the skills package mapping template to their context to inform strategic planning, Ministry of Health accompaniment, and integration of depression into multidrug-resistant tuberculosis care.
Lesotho Template
Haiti Skills Package Mapping
The skills package mapping template was initially piloted in Haiti as described above. The template helped the mental health team optimize tasks within existing staff and inform human resources needed for programmatic growth.
Haiti TemplateLesotho Skills Package Mapping
The PIH Lesotho team adapted the skills package mapping template to their context to inform strategic planning, Ministry of Health accompaniment, and integration of depression into multidrug-resistant tuberculosis care.
Lesotho TemplateCommunity Health Worker Algorithm
Created by Partners In Health, this algorithm aids in determining where and how community health workers will contribute to the greater mental health system.
Given community health workers' (CHW) ability to bridge the gap between health care resources and patients who need them, they play an integral role in health systems across the globe. However, CHWs are often overwhelmed with too many tasks and not enough support. This happens because health systems are often stretched thin when trying to provide more and more services, but with the same or even less funding.
To address this problem, this algorithm uses seven key questions to walk through five important steps for program implementers and policymakers to understand how to plan for including mental health services in care delivery. By clearly mapping the expected time and resources needed to accomplish priority tasks, the CHWs will be better positioned to successfully complete their work. The algorithm helps with planning for hiring, training, and supervision of CHWs who will be including mental health services in their work.
Additional Resources
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PIH Case Study: 5-SPICE Framework
This paper outlines the five "ingredients" that go into a mental health program. 5-SPICE establishes a conceptual framework that structures how implementers and researchers can understand, study, and improve their respective programs based on lessons learned by other CHW programs.
Practitioner Expertise to Optimize Community Health Systems Report
This practitioner guide from the CHW Coalition identifies and compares operational insights from CHW programs to understand how programs can be optimized to better extend health services to poor and marginalized populations and ensure health for all.
Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC)
The Community Health Impact Coalition identifies practices that lead to quality care delivery and accompanies partners to adopt those practices. The Community Health Worker Assessment & Improvement Matrix (AIM) is an evidence-based, easy-to-use quality tool for designing and investing in high-performing CHW programs. Access the AIM tool here.
PIH Case Study: 5-SPICE Framework
This paper outlines the five "ingredients" that go into a mental health program. 5-SPICE establishes a conceptual framework that structures how implementers and researchers can understand, study, and improve their respective programs based on lessons learned by other CHW programs.
Practitioner Expertise to Optimize Community Health Systems Report
This practitioner guide from the CHW Coalition identifies and compares operational insights from CHW programs to understand how programs can be optimized to better extend health services to poor and marginalized populations and ensure health for all.
Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC)
The Community Health Impact Coalition identifies practices that lead to quality care delivery and accompanies partners to adopt those practices. The Community Health Worker Assessment & Improvement Matrix (AIM) is an evidence-based, easy-to-use quality tool for designing and investing in high-performing CHW programs. Access the AIM tool here.