O-43 Implementation of a Multisectoral Programme to Improve Indigenous Adolescent Mental Health in Brazil and Dominica (IMPACT).

Methods:  About 1400 adolescents are expected to take part in IMPACT via their school and village activities in 2 components (i) Mental health promotion programme to improve awareness of maintaining good MH, preventing, and treating MH problems, and (ii) Mental health care programme, supported by trained Indigenous Community Health Workers, to identify and manage common adolescent MH problems. Trained Indigenous researchers will support evaluation over 3 years.

Results:  IMPACT started in August 2023 and the following have been achieved: a detailed co-developed Logic Model and Theory of Change containing 4 work packages (WPs): WP1: Partnership building and co-development. Local Adolescent Indigenous Groups and Stakeholder Implementation groups (SIG) co-developed all aspects of the study.  WP2: Training of Indigenous implementors in MH promotion and mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP).  WP3: Programme evaluation will use a theory-generating case study methodology to facilitate theoretical generalisations for wide-scale implementation. WP4: Knowledge exchange and impact include a Youth Expert Group and a capacity building hub. . The Nnarratives centred around family, school, and community life, and will be developed using creative arts..  Role-paly for training and creative methods  in MH Promotion  and creative methods for the training of carers and communities on mh-GAP were felt to be critical.

Conclusion:  Respectful and equitable coproduction processes with Indigenous adolescents and their communities are critical for a sustainable and culturally acceptable MH programme.