“Treatment Gap” has been identified as a key issue within global mental health, leading to the WHO response that is the Mental Health Gap Programme. Low supply of mental health professionals and low demands for psychiatric services contribute to the wide treatment gap. While the median worldwide treatment gap for psychosis is 32.2% (Kohn et al., 2004), the treatment gap in Indonesia is more than 90%. This means that only one in 10 people who need mental health care is actually receiving care. What happens to the rest, you may ask? There have been various accounts of human rights violations towards the mentally ill in Indonesia, most recently published on 20 Mar 2016 by the Human Rights Watch https://www.hrw.org/node/287537/

Clearly, we need a solution that works on the ground. The Ministry of Health has provided upskill training for community health centre clinicians in mental health care. The curriculum was aligned to the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Program in late 2015. GPs and nurses are trained to provide care. On the other hand, Gadjah Mada University's Faculty of Psychology in Yogyakarta manages 43 clinical psychologists, one in every community health centre in Sleman and Kota Yogya districts. This programme has been ongoing for 11 years, and will be rolled out in a third district in 2017.

What works? If both, which works better?

This research project aims to find out, by comparing both mental health service frameworks, in terms of reducing mental health symptoms, reducing disability, and improving quality of life, as well as the health services costs associated with these outcomes in community health centre patients.

We are £7000 short in fund and seek to crowd fund £3500 through justgiving. Your contribution will fund the training of 42 clinicians in screening, clinical interviewing, and treatment planning for mental health in primary care. It will also fund domestic flights and ground transport to 28 clinics.

Improve the lives of many now!