New digital health program shows lower risk of depression in rural India

A unique combination of digital healthcare and community campaigns has been shown to reduce the risk of depression, anxiety and self-harm in rural India.

This study program, developed by researchers at the George Institute for Global Health in New Delhi, has helped reduce the stigma associated with mental health.

Mental health is a pressing global challenge, particularly in India, where nearly 150 million people need treatment but only a fraction receive adequate care. The lack of mental health professionals it is particularly pronounced in rural areas.

To address this issue, the Mental Health Systematic Medical Assessment, Referral and Treatment (SMART) Program was initiated to train rural workers in basic mental health care and implement innovative methods of service delivery.

The study screened nearly 1,70,000 adults from West Godavari, Faridabad and Palwal districts of Andhra Pradesh and Haryana for depression.

Of those examined, 9,900 participants were part of a year-long study that used two main strategies: a community campaign to reduce stigma and a digital healthcare initiative targeting people at high risk of mental disorders.

The results of the process were amazing:

• There was a significant reduction in the risk of depression among intervention participants, with a cure rate of 75% achieving full recovery, compared to only 50% in the control group.
• The study noted a significant increase in mental health knowledge and attitudes, coupled with a reduction in the stigma associated with seeking help.

Pallab Maulik, Director of Research at The George Institute India, said: “This research marks a significant milestone in mental health care, revealing the profound impact of our dual intervention approach.”

Mercian Daniel, a senior researcher at the institute, emphasized the importance of training and support for community health workers, who played a vital role in the success of the program.

“By providing regular surveillance to ASHAs (community health workers) and primary care physicians, we could significantly identify and manage common mental disorders,” Daniel explained to IndiaToday.in.

Speaking about the study, the expert said: “The data are related to the outcome of two interventions that were carried out over 1 year. Linked to the first intervention to identify people with depression, anxiety, risk of suicide and alcohol abuse and disorders), depression for people at risk of doing so was substantially reduced and seen to improve compared to people who did not received the intervention.”

Second, he added, people’s knowledge and attitudes about mental health conditions improved significantly among those who were exposed to the program’s stigma reduction campaigns.

The SMART Mental Health Program can go a long way in addressing the lack of awareness and provide an alternative model of service delivery using the existing health system to ultimately bridge the huge treatment gap for mental illness in rural India.

The program’s digital tools, including algorithms for diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, were particularly well received by primary care physicians and ASHAs, who felt empowered by their ability to use these technologies effectively.

As mental health remains a critical concern globally, this innovative approach from rural India illustrates the potential of digital health solutions to support the country’s National Mental Health Program and address the treatment gap for mental illness.

The findings also resonate with calls by the WHO and the Lancet Commission for new strategies to combat mental health disorders worldwide, highlighting the adaptability of these strategies in low- and middle-income countries.