Table 1 Characteristics of task- sharing psychological interventions
Intervention description | Treatment focus | Evidence-based treatment approach | Total sessions | Length of a session | Frequency of sessions | Delivery method and setting | Additional components |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Evidence-based task sharing counselling interventions | |||||||
 AFFIRM (Lund, South Africa, 2019)  To equip CHWs with skills to offer counselling support to mothers in low resources settings | Perinatal Depression SA | Problem-solving Behaviour activation Cognitive behaviour therapy | 6 | 60 m | bi-monthly | Individual home-based visits | Psychoeducation Relaxation Basic counselling skills Assessment guideline Safety guideline |
 THINKING HEALTHY (Rahman, Pakistan, 2008)  To equip lay health care workers with skills to assist to take better self-care, bond with their baby and enhance social support | Perinatal Depression LMICs | Cognitive behaviour therapy Problem-solving | 16 | 45–60 m | Varied—Integrated into routine visit | Individual, home-based visits | Psychoeducation Relaxation Family engagement Mobilising social support Basic counselling skills |
 HEALTHY ACTIVITY (Patel, India, 2017)  To strengthen counselling skills and better equip lay health workers to deliver a culturally appropriate treatment | Depression | Behaviour activation Problem-solving | 6–8 | 30–40 m | Spread over 2–3 months | Individual, facility -based visits | Psychoeducation Basic counselling skills and collaborating with the client Safety assessment Involvement significant others (SO) |
 THE FRIENDSHIP BENCH (Chibanda, Zimbabwe, 2017)  To provide lay health workers with the skills to deliver a problem-solving therapy intervention for common mental disorders related to HIV | Depression and anxiety | Problem-solving | 6 | 60 m | Spread over 2–3 weeks | Individual, facility-based visits | Basic counselling skills |
 Problem Management Plus (PM +) (WHO, 2016)  To provide lay health workers with the skills to deliver a low intensity psychological intervention to improve a client’s ability to manage their own emotional distress | Depression anxiety and stress | Problem-solving Behavioural activation | 5 | 90 m | weekly | Individual, home-based visits | Basic counselling skills Praising openness, validating feelings Social support Relaxation techniques |
 Trauma Focused CBT (Murray, 2015)  To provide lay counsellors with the skills to deliver an evidence-based trauma treatment programme | Depression anxiety and PTSD | Problem-solving Behaviour activation Cognitive behaviour therapy | 8 | 90 m | weekly | Individual, facility or community-based visits | Psychoeducation Praising openness, validating feelings Social support Relaxation techniques Safety |
Basic counselling support and containment for distress | |||||||
 Basic Counselling Skills (PMHP, 2011)  To educate and empower maternal care health workers with the skills to support perinatal women in distress | Maternal mental health | Person-centred Problem management | 2–3 | NR | NR | Individual, facility or community-based visits | Principles of basic counselling Role of the helper Psychoeducation Caring for the counsellor |
Department of Health in-service training programmes for Community Health Workers | |||||||
 HIV Counselling training for lay counsellors | HIV and related symptoms | Problem-solving method integrated into training programme design | NR | NR | NR | Individual, facility based | Psychoeducation Basic counselling skills Pre- and post-counselling |
 Ward-based Community Health worker Training | Seven core skills | Problem-solving method integrated into training programme design | NR | NR | NR | Individual, community based | Health Promotion Confidentiality Communication skills Screening Tracing Psychosocial support |