Open Pilot Trial of a Single Session Consultation Service for Clients at StrongMinds Uganda

The need for mental health services in Sub-Saharan Africa far exceeds the availability of support, creating long waitlists for the few services that are in place. To address this crisis, implementing evidence-based, single-session interventions for individuals seeking treatment may provide timely relief. StrongMinds—a mental health charity organization serving youth and adults in Uganda—piloted a Single-Session Consultation (SSC) service for new treatment-seekers with elevated depressive symptoms, as indicated by a score on a screener survey suggesting the presence of at least mild depression. To optimize its reach and fit with StrongMinds’ service delivery model, the SSC was delivered by trained lay providers in both individual and group-based formats. Within two months (September-October 2023), the SSC was delivered to 200 Ugandan adults with elevated depression symptoms (ages 16-86; 73% female) upon initial outreach for StrongMinds’ group psychotherapy services. SSC clients reported significant improvements in hopelessness and depression symptoms at 2-week (ds = -0.73, -1.12) and 1-month follow-ups (ds = -0.96, -1.44), while waiting for group psychotherapy. SSC clients reported high SSC satisfaction (M = 4.47/5), and intervention effects did not significantly differ by delivery format (i.e., individual vs. group format). Results suggest the SSC’s acceptability, feasibility, and utility as a low-intensity, scalable intervention for adolescents and adults in Uganda on waiting lists for longer-term psychotherapy.