Table 1 Task sharing intervention for the Task Sharing for the Care of Severe Mental Disorders in a Low-income Country (TaSCS) trial

Health centre nurses and health officers

9 days of training in mhGAP-IG packages (4 days of base course + 5 days of on-the-job training)

Phase I: Support and supervision by project psychiatric nurse tapering down from weekly to bi-weekly

Delivered by project psychiatric nurse supported by project psychiatrist

Phase 2 onwards: Monthly support and supervision by project psychiatric nurse

Pre-study run-in phase: on-the-job training with patients with SMD who volunteer for treatment in PHC, delivered by project psychiatric nurse

Supervision sessions will include discussion of all cases presenting with suicidal ideation or a psychiatric emergency, discussion of complex cases, developing supportive relationships with the general health care provider and trouble-shooting.

1-day refresher training at 6 and 12 months

Emergency consultation with project psychiatric nurse

Referral for specialist review at Butajira psychiatric unit

Register of appointment times for persons with Severe Mental Disorder needing ongoing care

Health extension workers

2-day training course based on Ministry of Health training materials^*.

Monthly supervision by health centre-based supervisor

Delivered by project psychiatrist

Consultation with health centre supervisors

District health office and community stakeholders

Stakeholder workshop facilitated by project psychiatrists

Regular meetings of the trial advisory board and one-to-one liaison of project psychiatric nurse with district health office heads