Identifying core global mental health professional competencies: a multi-sectoral perspective

Karadzhov, D. , Lee, J., Hatton-Wotham, G., White, R. G., Sharp, L. , Jalloh, A. and Langan Martin, J. (2024) Identifying core global mental health professional competencies: a multi-sectoral perspective. Global Mental Health, (doi: 10.1017/gmh.2024.26)

Abstract

Concerned with sustainably alleviating mental distress and promoting the right to health worldwide, global mental health (GMH) is practised across various contexts spanning the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. The inherently intersectoral and multidisciplinary nature of GMH calls for competency frameworks and training programmes that embody diversity, decolonisation and multiprofessionalism. Existing competency frameworks have failed to capture the multi-sectoral, inter-professional nature of contemporary GMH practice. In response to these needs, a qualitative content analysis of relevant job advertisements was conducted to distil a comprehensive set of professional competencies in contemporary GMH practice. Approximately 200 distinct skills and competencies were extracted from 70 job advertisements and organised into four meta-dimensions: ‘skills’, ‘sector’, ‘self’ and ‘subject’. The first known systematic attempt at a multi-sectoral GMH competency framework, it offers a springboard for exploring vital yet overlooked professional competencies such as resilience, self-reflection, political skills and entrepreneurialism. On this basis, recommendations for building a competent, agile and effective GMH workforce with diversified and future-proof skillsets are proposed. The framework can also inform inter- professional training and curriculum design, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at early-career professional development, particularly in low- and middle-income settings.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The work reported in this paper was funded by the University of Glasgow’s Learning & Teaching Development Fund.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hatton-Wotham, Mr George and Jalloh, Dr Abdul and Sharp, Dr Laura and Langan-Martin, Dr Julie and Karadzhov, Dr Dimitar

Creator Roles

Karadzhov, D.: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Formal analysis, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing
Hatton-Wotham, G.: Data curation, Methodology, Formal analysis, Software, Project administration, Writing – original draft
Sharp, L.: Funding acquisition, Methodology, Visualization, Writing – review and editing
Jalloh, A.: Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing
Langan-Martin, J.: Funding acquisition, Visualization, Writing – review and editing

• Authors: Karadzhov, D., Lee, J., Hatton-Wotham, G., White, R. G., Sharp, L., Jalloh, A., and Langan Martin, J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Global Mental Health
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 2054-4251
• ISSN (Online): 2054-4251
• Published Online: 22 February 2024
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2024 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Global Mental Health 2024
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License