Scalability of a task-sharing psychological intervention for refugees: A qualitative study in the Netherlands

Mental health systems across the world struggle to meet needs of present and future populations. People affected by war forced displacement, such as refugees, have especially high unmet psychological needs. Shifting tasks from mental specialists less specialised providers is increasingly opted an innovative solution overcome care gap. Yet little known about how task-sharing interventions for refugees can be implemented on a larger scale integrated in existing systems. In this article, we use system innovation perspective examine factors influencing potential scaling up intervention called ‘Problem Management Plus’ (PM+) Netherlands. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals (n=42) knowledgeable PM+ Dutch refugees. Findings suggest that feasibility wider implementation largely depends whether barriers like stigma, attrition, fragmentation, competition, legal, financial challenges overcome. Formalising roles new non-specialist workers will important, including developing structures their accreditation supervision. There are various possibilities institutional anchoring innovation: asylum centres, formal care, communities. The integration scenarios identified study need tested, evaluated, refined, reported research. • Task-sharing may improve access PM ​+ ​could Overcoming systemic changes likely needed PM+. We propose recommendations further learning, expanding, mainstreaming.