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Bridging the Mental Health Gap in Neglected Diseases & Tuberculosis
With over 80% of Nigerians with mental health conditions lacking access to structured care, RedAid Nigeria embeds WHO mhGAP screening, task-sharing clinical protocols, and peer psychosocial support into frontline DOTS clinics and leprosy relief networks across 4 priority states.
People affected by neglected tropical diseases and tuberculosis face severe depression, social exclusion, and chronic stigma.
Leprosy, Buruli ulcer, Lymphatic Filariasis, and drug-resistant Tuberculosis are diseases not only of physical tissue, but of deep social isolation. The psychological burden often leads to treatment default, self-harm, economic devastation, and severed family ties.
In response, RedAid Nigeria developed the Mental Health Care in Primary Health Care (mhCAP) framework in partnership with CBM Global Disability Inclusion, NTBLCP Federal Ministry of Health, and academic clinical investigators. We decentralize psychiatric and psychological care from tertiary specialist hospitals down to rural primary healthcare workers and community champion networks.
The Three Pillars of the mhCAP Delivery Framework
How RedAid operationalizes task-sharing, clinical screening, and lived-experience counseling across public health facilities.
Primary Healthcare Worker WHO mhGAP Training
Because psychiatric doctors are scarce in rural Nigeria, RedAid trains frontline Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), nurses, and DOTS officers using the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) Intervention Guide.
- Identification of Common Mental Disorders (Depression, Anxiety).
- Triage of Substance Use Disorders during TB treatment.
- Structured referral pathways to zonal neuropsychiatric centers.
Routine PHQ-4 & PHQ-9 Clinical Screening in DOTS
Mental health screening is not treated as an isolated silo. Validated PHQ-4 and PHQ-9 assessment tools are integrated into routine monthly sputum visits, leprosy ulcer dressing appointments, and outreach camps.
- Early detection before suicidal ideation or treatment discontinuation.
- Digital adherence monitoring and counseling notes in clinical registers.
- Strict client confidentiality and trauma-informed consultation.
Community NTD Champions & Self-Help Support Circles
Trained Community NTD Champions - individuals with lived experience of cured leprosy, Buruli ulcer, or TB - lead peer support circles, visit homebound patients, and dismantle community taboos.
- Safe spaces for shared psychological healing and emotional solidarity.
- Family counseling to prevent abandonment and domestic exclusion.
- Livelihood micro-grants to restore economic autonomy.
Download Official mhCAP Technical Documents
Peer-reviewed briefs, advocacy recommendations, and field factsheets published by RedAid Nigeria and consortium partners.
CBM & RedAid mhCAP-NTDs Advocacy & Policy Brief
Evidence-based policy brief detailing systemic healthcare worker training, community stigma indicators, and multi-stakeholder integration pathways.
mhCAP-NTD Project Factsheet & Indicator Summary
Operational metrics, priority state coverage, training statistics, and community champion deployment figures across pilot health facilities.
mhCAP-NTDs Project Strategic Brief
High-level strategic analysis for health ministries, donors, and implementing partners on sustaining integrated mental health models.
Implementing Partners & Strategic Consortium
