Provision of Mental Health Care by the Community Health Officers (CHOs) Through Collaborative Video Consultations: A Descriptive Analysis.

Background: The mental health (MH) treatment gap in India is particularly pronounced in underserved and rural areas. Community Health Officers (CHOs) play a crucial role in addressing this gap at the primary care level. A pan India digitally driven MH capacity-building program was designed to integrate MH care into primary care settings by training CHOs and supporting them through Collaborative Video Consultations (CVCs). We aimed to examine the profile of MH cases through CVCs by CHOs trained under a pan-India, digitally enabled MH capacity-building program, and to describe the diagnostic patterns and types of handholding provided across three Indian states.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 591 CVC records from CHOs of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Bihar from November 15, 2022 to July 31, 2024, who underwent a six-session online training program on MH care, followed by real-time video consultations with MH professionals for case discussions and patient management. Descriptive statistics and crosstabulations were used for data analysis.

Results: Most CVCs were from adult patients aged 19-60 years (79.69%), with women more frequently identified with common mental disorders (CMD) (25.42%) and men more commonly having severe mental disorders (SMD) (12.20%) and substance use disorders (SUD) (16.61%). Among states, Bihar had the highest number of CVCs (38.92%). CHOs provided handholding through referrals, counseling, and follow-ups.

Conclusions: The program demonstrated the effectiveness of CVCs in empowering CHOs to identify and manage MH conditions. The consultation-based collaborative model facilitated accurate diagnoses and timely interventions, bridging the MH treatment gap in rural and underserved regions. Continued investment in CHO training, digital infrastructure, and follow-up care is essential for sustaining the program's impact on primary MH care.