After the Randomised Controlled Trial: Implementing Problem Management Plus Through Humanitarian Agencies: Three Case Studies from Ethiopia, Syria and Honduras

Abstract

Problem Management Plus (PM+) is an evidence-based intervention developed for adults impaired by distress in communities exposed to adversity. After being tested and released by the World Health Organization, a capacity building project was launched to increase the uptake of the intervention within humanitarian settings. Humanitarian organisations were trained and supported through supervision to implement individual PM+. After the two master trainings were completed, case studies were conducted in Ethiopia, Syria and Honduras to describe the uptake of the intervention by organisations following the training. When the case studies were drafted in July 2019, 34 master trainers had gone on to train and supervise 305 PM+ providers throughout the globe. The case studies show that individual PM+ is both relevant and appropriate for use in various humanitarian settings. Through these case studies, we gathered meaningful examples of the different ways that PM+ can be implemented in various settings with non-specialised providers. Having a robust supervision system (remote or face-to-face) in place is essential, along with practising the intervention before it was fully delivered. Additionally, dedicated staff or volunteers, adequate time to conduct the initial training and contextualisation and a system to ensure quality were also paramount to ensure successful implementation.

Keywords

• ethiopia
• honduras
• lay helpers
• problem management plus (pm+)
• psychological intervention
• syria