Background:
Despite mental health conditions affecting one in eight people globally, 75% of those in low- andmiddle-income countries receive no treatment. Young people in these settings face particular challenges, asmost mental health problems emerge before age 25. Traditional treatment models requiring specialist clinicianscannot meet this enormous need.
Methods:
This editorial synthesizes evidence from multiple studies and policy analyses to propose strategiesfor transforming mental health care delivery. The authors draw on research from Kenya and other Africancountries to identify scalable approaches that work within resource constraints.
Findings:
Three key strategies can expand mental health care access: task-shifting to trained lay providers,using single-session and brief interventions, and integrating mental health into existing community structureslike schools. Evidence shows these approaches can achieve clinical outcomes comparable to specialist carewhile being dramatically more cost-effective and scalable.
Implications:
Addressing the global mental health crisis requires moving beyond the specialist-only model.Countries can achieve universal mental health coverage by embracing evidence-based alternatives that leverageexisting community resources and train non-specialists to deliver effective interventions. This transformation isparticularly urgent for young people in low-resource settings, where early intervention can prevent decades ofdisability.
