Table 1 Outline of the ten Participatory Action Group meetings for widows of IDUs
Session | Outline | Expected Outcome | Data Collection |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Introduction to the PAG process • Introductory activity • Developing ground rules • Identifying members' expectations • Activity to highlight individual strengths and skills • Administering baseline questionnaires | • Promote understanding of the purpose of the intervention • Establish ground rules and expectations • Highlight focus on value of group process and strength based approach • Identify participants' skills and strengths and how these skills might be used to develop strategies to address future challenges. | • Baseline questionnaires: - WHO QOL-BREF - GHQ12 - Health Risk Questionnaire • Meeting summary report |
2 | Concepts and determinants of mental health • Conducting FGD 1: Concepts and determinants of mental health for widows of IDUs • Naming the group • Finishing with a fun activity | • Learn about the participants perspectives on mental health and well-being • Enhance group cohesion • End session with sense of enjoyment | • FGD transcripts • Meeting summary report |
3 | What is mental health? • Energising activity • Conducting a facilitator-led group discussion on mental health and illness • Mapping exercise – how to promote mental health of widows of IDUs • Free discussion time | • Develop awareness of mental health and illness • Create understanding of factors that promote mental health | • Meeting summary report |
4 | Positive futures and support from family, friends and community – a focus on social inclusion • Energizing activity • Envisioning a positive future activity • Brain-storming activity on promoting support from family and friends • Free discussion time | • Participants to identify factors that contribute to a positive future for individuals and the group • Introduce concept of social inclusion • Develop understanding of connection between social inclusion and mental health • Develop ideas to promote support from family, friends and community | • Meeting summary report |
5 | A focus on stigma and discrimination • Energizing activity • Brain-storming activity on stigma and discrimination • Teaching relaxation techniques | • Identify common sources of stigma and discrimination • Develop ideas to address stigma and discrimination • Develop understanding of the connection between stigma and discrimination and mental health • Participants to gain skills in coping with stressful situations and techniques to relax | • Meeting summary report |
6 | A focus on access to economic resources • Energizing activity • Conducting small group activities: reading 2 stories based on women and income generation. Discuss lessons learnt and develop group and individual ideas for income generation • Activity to identify group priority areas for income generation • Additional information provided for research officers and facilitators on income generation • Free discussion time | • Identify relationship between access to economic resources and mental health • Develop understanding of and ideas for income generation for groups and individuals • Encourage solutions that are not dependent on external funding • Identify group priority areas for income generation for further development next sessions | • Meeting summary report |
7 | Development of action plans • Conducting a discussion about the nature and benefits of the action planning process for groups and individuals • Develop vision and mission statements for action plan • Discussion of strategies for achieving action plans | • Create understanding of benefits of action plan • Develop group ideas on how to promote mental health • Develop capacity of groups to take action to improve their own mental health • Encourage sustainability of group process | • Meeting summary report |
8 | Most Significant Change and action plan development • Collection of stories for MSC • Further development of action plans • Free discussion time | • Learn about the impact of the intervention from the participants perspectives • Increase capacity of groups to take action to improve their own mental health | • MSC stories • Meeting summary report |
9 | Mental health and HIV • Conducting FGD 2: links between mental health and HIV • Feedback on MSC story selection process | • Learn about participants perspectives on links between mental health and HIV • Develop awareness of relationship between poor mental health and engagement in HIV risk behaviours • Highlight MSC stories selected as significant by participants and compare with those selected by NGOs | • FGD transcripts • Meeting summary report |
10 | Bringing it all together • Finalising action plans • Administering post intervention questionnaires • Celebration | • Capacity to take action plan forward • Highlight achievement of groups | • Post intervention questionnaires: -WHO QOL-BREF -GHQ12 -Health Risk Questionnaire • Meeting summary report |