Mental health and psychological counselling and support for people with TB

Preservation and maintenance of mental health, psychological counselling, and support are focused on specific needs in the field of mental health and psychology, as well as the specific situation of the client. Quite often, people with TB and MDR-TB also have a number of other social and psychological problems, such as social exclusion, addictions, and broken family ties, which can significantly affect adherence to treatment and successful recovery. Long-term treatment is an additional stress factor that may significantly affect the quality of life and psychological support, as well as work with the person’s motivation for adherence to treatment, which can play a key role in the successful follow-up of people with TB and MDR-TB. According to WHO recommendations, the organisation of psychosocial support for people with TB should be an obligatory part of anti-TB programs in order to improve the quality of life and increase the effectiveness of measures to prevent and treat TB and MDR-TB. “Healthcare staff should be trained in the identification of anxiety and depression in people with TB and the provision of the necessary support”. People with TB who got access to psychological support showed higher rates of treatment completion and lower rates of treatment failure and loss to follow-up, especially among at-risk populations.

The course is aimed at staff of CSOs involved in the preparation and implementation of social contracts for the provision of TB services, representatives of TB-affected communities, and other specialists.

This series is designed to provide in-depth knowledge and practical skills across 13 distinct modules. Each module has been structured as an individual course, addressing different components essential to TB community-based services. This modular approach allows you to delve deeply into each component at your own pace as well as earn a certificate of achievement. While each course stands alone, together they form a cohesive learning experience, so, you can choose to complete all 13 courses to gain comprehensive knowledge or select specific courses that align with your learning needs and professional goals. These courses include:

1. Awareness raising, risk communication, mobilization and meaningful engagement of community;
2. Counselling of individuals at risk of TB;
3. Non-clinical management of TB preventive treatment;
4. Active TB case finding;
5. Supported treatment observation;
6. Case management of loss to follow-up and prevention of treatment interruption;
7. Individual needs assessment;
8. Mental health and psychological counselling and support;
9. TB case management: non-clinical;
10. Material support;
11. Health education and counselling;
12. Post-treatment social support and/or rehabilitation;
13. Costing methodology.

Each module culminates in a thorough Course Assessment, enabling participants to gauge their understanding and proficiency in the covered material. A Certificate of Achievement is attainable for each module, awarded to participants who achieve a minimum score of 80% across all quizzes. Participants who receive a Record of Achievement can also download an Open Badge for this course. Click here to learn how. There is also a Final Self-Assessment to mark the end of all the 13 courses.

The following online course is developed by the TB Europe Coalition (TBEC) under the financial support of Stop TB Partnership, World Health Organization, The Center for Health Policies and Studies (PAS Center), The Global Fund and United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The views of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily represent the opinion of the funders. The course is intended to be used as a self-learning course. All reasonable precautions have been taken by TBEC and WHO to verify the information contained in this training. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the online training lies with the reader. In no event shall TBEC or any of the listed funders be liable for damages arising from its use.