Implementing Early Physical and Mental Health Detection and Support: Promoting a Whole-School Approach to Health and Well-being (ISOBAR)

ISOBAR seeks to address the lack of integrated evidence-based prevention interventions in schools in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like India and Nigeria.  Countries often face challenges in providing comprehensive mental health and nutritional support to adolescents due to limited resources and infrastructure. ISOBAR intends to bridge these gaps by integrating evidence-based prevention interventions into a single composite intervention tailored for adolescents in public schools.

By focusing on early detection, prevention, and support within the school setting, ISOBAR seeks to address the determinants of mental health and nutritional disorders in adolescents, ultimately aiming to reduce the future burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in these populations. The project’s approach and emphasis on implementation research in LMIC settings make it crucial in promoting adolescent health and well-being in resource-constrained environments.

ISOBAR aims to implement a comprehensive school-based health intervention focused on mental health literacy and targeted support through counselling for early intervention for mental and nutritional support among adolescents in India and Nigeria.

We will train school-based counsellors in evidence-based interventions which have been tailored to the local socio-cultural context and offer these in a staggered manner to three schools at each site (two in India, one in Nigeria). We will conduct this work in partnership with schools, young people, their carers, health providers and policymakers who have strong and well-established links.

Using an implementation research framework, we will evaluate our programme to determine whether it is acceptable to the schools, useful in promoting positive health, preventing mental health and nutritional conditions from emerging, and ensuring that those who need specialist care receive it in a timely and effective manner.

ISOBAR aims to reduce stigma, improve adolescent health, and influence policy by promoting early detection and support for mental and nutritional challenges in schools. Through a whole-school approach accessible to all students, it seeks to reduce health inequities and enhance long-term well-being. Implementing the intervention in culturally distinct LMICs will generate evidence to guide local, regional, and national policies, while fostering knowledge-sharing networks. Additionally, by training and mentoring local stakeholders, ISOBAR will build capacity for sustainable implementation and scale-up, extending its reach to more schools and adolescents.

The project is to be implemented in the Mansa block of Gandhinagar district in Gujarat. The project is currently in the planning and development phase, focusing on stakeholder engagement, intervention design, and capacity building.

Professor Swaran Singh – University of Warwick, UK

Dr Soumitra Pathare – Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy, Indian Law Society, India

Dr Thara Rangaswamy – Schizophrenia Research Foundation, India

Professor Olayinka Omigbodun – University of Ibadan, Nigeria

• Adolescent health
• Mental health and nutrition
• School-based interventions
• LMICs
• Implementation science