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. 2022 Jan 12;2(1):e0000131. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000131

Table 4. Potential solutions for targeting mental distress linked to child marriage.

Staging Classification Symptoms/conditions Suggested solution Examples References Population
Stage 0–1 asymptomatic and non-specific mental distress Emotional symptoms: Distress, loneliness, stress School based mental health supports Mental health literacy interventions Rajaraman et al., [92] For girls returning to school; for those facing the threat of child marriage
Mental health promotion and prevention through social change Eg: BALIKA programme with livelihoods, education and gender rights awareness training supports. Amin et al., 2018 [87] For adolescents in the community
Social drivers: poverty, IPV, isolation Community engagement and development interventions Group Interventions to promote women’s maternal health (PLA groups) Sondaal, 2018 [93] Women married young in the community
Stage 2–4 Emphasis on Common Mental disorders Specific conditions: Depression, suicide risk, substance misuse Packages of care for common mental disorders, including those targeting suicide risk Problem solving+; Dawson et al., 2015 [94] For women with clinical symptoms, delivered in various settings
Community based therapies (schools) Brown et al., 2019 [95] For older adolescents returning to school
Group based therapy combined with livelihood supports Gumbonzvanda et al., 2021 [91] For women married as children–community based-support
Social drivers: poverty, IPV, reduced agency Community engagement to promote social change PLA groups for mental health improvements Belaid et al., 2021 [96] For women and wider community members (including male partners)