A global scoping review of task shifting and sharing interventions to improve the mental health of people living with HIV/AIDS

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) often experience co-morbid/co-occurring mental health conditions, e.g., depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In resource-limited settings, where provider shortages are common, task shifting and task sharing (i.e., service delivery by non-professionals) are recommended strategies to promote access to and utilization of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services among PLWH. We conducted a global scoping review of the literature on MHPSS task shifting and sharing intervention studies for PLWH. Data extracted and summarized included study characteristics, intervention components, whether trauma informed study design, how lay health workers (LHWs) were identified and trained to deliver MHPSS services, and findings related to mental health outcomes. Results indicated that from 2013 through 2022, published intervention research concerning task shifting and sharing approaches was much more prolific in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. MHPSS interventions delivered by a variety of LHWs yielded promising associations on an array of mental health outcomes, including PTSD/trauma and suicidality, though understudied. Underreported details regarding LHW recruitment/selection, compensation, supervision and assessment made it difficult to identify common or best practices. Further research is needed to facilitate the adoption and implementation of MHPSS task shifting and sharing interventions.