Implementation of the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) in Kosrae State in the Federated States of Micronesia.

Engelhard, Caitlin; Haack, Sara; Alik, Tholman

Improving access to mental health care is a global health priority, and a significant treatment gap exists in Pacific Island Countries. One strategy to bridge the gap is the World Health Organization's Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), which provides evidence-based guidance for managing mental, neurological, and substance abuse conditions. mhGAP has been implemented in more than 90 countries, but there has been limited training within many Pacific Island countries. We describe implementation of mhGAP training in Kosrae, a state within the Federated States of Micronesia. mhGAP training was conducted with 18 members of the Kosrae Community Health Center (KCHC). Our training model included 2 helpful modifications: (1) participants attended a combination of online sessions and a 1-week in-person training, which allowed for more time and flexibility in delivering training; and (2) longitudinal support posttraining, which has been identified as an important factor in successful implementation of mhGAP.