Vulnerable populations affected by mental disorders living in communities of the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon suffer from near absent or inadequate mental health services. Understanding the barriers in the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is crucial for mental health professionals living and working in these communities as it offers them opportunities to explore options as they continue to provide much-needed community-based mental health services to clients in these communities. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the barriers to the use of ICTs in the provision of community-based mental health services in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Camroon. More specifically, the study sought to ascertain the extent to which barriers in the use of the telephone, computers and the internet affected the provision of community-based mental health services. The study employed a case study research design using qualitative techniques. Interviews and observations were used to obtain data from a sample of 25 mental health practitioners working at office and field locations in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of the country. Data was analyzed using content analysis with the support of ATLAS.ti software version 8.0. Based on the findings, recommendations were made to mental health professionals and community service providers who were advised to increase their ICT competency and proficiency in order to emerge as better professionals in today’s globalized, industrialized and highly competitive job market in order to continue to provide comprehensive and sustainable community-based mental health services to vulnerable populations affected by mental disorders in the Northwest and Southwest communities of Cameroon and beyond. Suggestions for further studies were also made.
Barriers, Opportunities, The Use of ICTs, The Telephone, Computers, The Internet, and Community-Based Mental Health Services
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