Data Sheet 1_Public health interventions to improve the mental health and mental health li

Regeru Njoroge Regeru published a systematic review document on 2026-06-02, analyzing 30 studies on public health interventions for young people with depression or schizophrenia in low- and middle-income countries. The review identified 5,339 records and found that most interventions were based on behavior therapy, with 10 incorporating digital health components. Outcomes were assessed using validated tools like the Beck Depression Inventory-II, with 25 studies reporting significant improvements.

Use Cases

• Identify effective intervention frameworks (e.g., CBT, behavior activation) for youth mental health based on the review's findings.
• Analyze the role and outcomes of digital health components (e.g., messaging services, computerized therapy) in mental health programs.
• Compare the efficacy of different mental health literacy outcomes, such as social support and self-efficacy, across studies.
• Inform the design of future studies by examining the short-term follow-up durations (≤6 months) and assessment tools used.

Strengths

• The review is based on a systematic search of 5,339 records from multiple databases, including non-English and grey literature sources.
• Findings are derived from 30 included studies, with 25 reporting statistically significant improvements in mental health outcomes.
• Intervention outcomes were assessed using pre-existing validated tools, often adapted to the local context.

Limitations

• The dataset is a single 782.6 KB DOCX file; its internal structure and any underlying data tables are not described.
• The review's focus is limited to two specific mental disorders (MDD and schizophrenia) in a specific age group (15-29) and setting (LMICs).
• Outcomes were generally assessed over short follow-up durations of ≤6 months, limiting insights into long-term effects.

Provenance

Source

Regeru Njoroge Regeru via figshare.

Collection Method

Systematic review of electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, PsycINFO) and grey literature.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-02 05:26:36.

Geography

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).