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 depression symptoms. 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 SSCsatisfaction (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.