(Youth FORWARD) is a mental health services research/implementation science initiative involving local governments, non-governmental organizations, the World Bank, and academic institutions. Its dual focus is the science of scaling up mental health care for high-risk youth in Sierra Leone and Liberia, and the expansion of local capacity to conduct and use further research. An implementation study is taking place in Sierra Leone. Capacity-building activities are occurring in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Implementation Research Study
The implementation study is designed to assess the integration of a transdiagnostic mental health intervention based on common practice elements derived from both cognitive-behavioral therapy and group interpersonal therapy—called the Youth Readiness Intervention (YRI)—into the Youth Employment Scheme, a national youth employment program funded by the Government of Sierra Leone with support from the World Bank. The YRI comprises six evidence-based common practice elements used in trauma-informed care for youth exposed to violence and loss (psychoeducation, emotion regulation/relaxation skills, cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, building interpersonal skills, and problem solving). The study compares two approaches for implementing YRI: an Interagency Collaborative Team approach versus a conventional training and supervision strategy. The two approaches are compared in terms of costs and impact on fidelity and sustained delivery.