SAMARTH

Uptake and Integration of Task-Shared Care for Schizophrenia in Primary Care Research

An ongoing project (2025-2030).

The Aim of the Study:

SAMARTH, led by Dr. John Naslund (Harvard Medical School) and Deepak Tugnawat (Sangath), aims to integrate psychosocial rehabilitation for schizophrenia into India’s primary care system using digital tools. The study evaluates the effectiveness and sustainability of the COPSI intervention (COmmunity care for People with Schizophrenia in India) with and without the support of the mindLAMP app, a digital tool that tracks mood, behavior, and activity patterns, through a randomized controlled trial in Madhya Pradesh.
 

The Background:

Schizophrenia remains one of the leading contributors to disability, particularly in low-resource settings. In India, more than 3.5 million people live with schizophrenia, and the burden continues to rise, particularly among those facing co-occurring chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes. These challenges are further compounded by high rates of premature mortality. There is an urgent need for integrated approaches that combine mental and physical health care.

SAMARTH addresses this gap by using task-sharing models to embed schizophrenia care within primary health systems, aligning with India’s National Mental Health Policy 2017. The project incorporates digital phenotyping and personalized insights from tools such as mindLAMP to support both the implementation and the sustainability of community-based mental health interventions.

The Project Plan:

SAMARTH is beginning its implementation in the Bhopal and Sehore districts of Madhya Pradesh and consists of the following key components:

• A Randomized Controlled Trial comparing the delivery of the COPSI intervention alone versus COPSI combined with mindLAMP, a digital tool that tracks mood, behavior, and activity patterns.
• Evaluation of the role of digital phenotyping in enhancing care personalization and monitoring patient progress.
• Investigation into the sustainability and scalability of integrating schizophrenia care into primary care systems, using task-shared and tech-supported approaches.
   

Progress to date includes:

• Receipt of Notice of Award from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• HMSC approval secured
• MoU with NHM Madhya Pradesh is under discussion

Supporters and Project Duration:

SAMARTH is supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), USA, and will run from January 2025 to December 2030.

Investigators:

• Dr. John Naslund, Project Contact PI
• Deepak Tugnawat, Sangath PI