Implementation of community-based rehabilitation in Colombia in mental health: barriers, facilitators, and purposes

Abstract Mental health holds a crucial position within global public health agendas, particularly in the context of developing and implementing community-based approaches. Despite this, there remains a scarcity of evidence regarding the methodologies and anticipated outcomes associated with community-based rehabilitation (CBR) in low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to address this gap by identifying the barriers and facilitators. Through a qualitative approach involving focus groups conducted within a CBR training programme in Colombia, thematic analysis was employed to discern, analyze, and present patterns within the data. The findings, drawn from the participation of 208 individuals including clinical and administrative mental health professionals, as well as community leaders, underscored recurring themes such as the necessity for alliances across various sectors with a shared mental health goal, the importance of contextual considerations in programme development, the need for increased economic resources allocated to mental health, and the significance of empowering community autonomy. Ultimately, the study highlights the imperative of fostering equitable dialogue between communities and decision-makers to facilitate the effective transition of CBR from theory to implementation.