A scoping review of counselling and psychological intervention models in low income nations

Abstract

There has been a persistent lack of synthesized knowledge on mental health treatment models that attune to the realities of low-income countries at large. To address this significant mental health knowledge gap, this scoping review tries to identify and synthesize the literature on psychological intervention models developed for or adapted to these contexts. After conducting a thorough search of academic databases, we went through a two-stage screening process to identify relevant articles. From those eligible studies, we collected and organized data on various theoretical and therapeutic counseling models, synthesizing the information into clear themes. The 42 included articles revealed five primary model categories: (1) Task-Shifting and Simplification, (2) Indigenous and Culturally-Grounded, (3) Systems-Level and Meta-Models, (4) Cultural Adaptation Frameworks, and (5) Technology-Based Delivery. The results indicate evidence base for the effectiveness of task-shifting simplified Western therapies and a growing movement toward validating indigenous psychologies. The findings demonstrate a clear shift toward pragmatic and culturally grounded interventions. Task-shifting is proven to be a promising approach in the field, but its effectiveness depends on having intense supervision. It is vital for research to focus on making the strategies sustainable for the long run, assessing their economic effectiveness, and comparing different models to see what works best for low-income nations.