Helping people with severe mental illness transition from hospital to community care in South Africa
Official title: FEASIBILITY AND ACCEPTABILITY OF CRITICAL TIME INTERVENTION TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS FOLLOWING POST-ACUTE HOSPITAL DISCHARGE IN SOUTH AFRICA
Funded at University of Kwazulu-Natal · NIH-10899783 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to help people with serious mental health issues transition smoothly from the hospital back to their homes in South Africa, using a special support program that connects them with community health workers and peers to reduce the chances of going back to the hospital.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kwazulu-Natal NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durban, South Africa) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $165,067 |
| NIH project number | 5R34MH131233-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10899783 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with severe mental illness who are transitioning from hospital care to community living in South Africa.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing severe mental illness or those who are not transitioning from hospital care may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how to effectively support individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) during their transition from hospital back to community living in South Africa. It focuses on implementing a Critical Time Intervention (CTI), which is a time-limited psychosocial support program designed to reduce the risk of readmission to hospitals. By utilizing community health workers and peer support, the project aims to create a tailored intervention that addresses the unique challenges faced by patients in low-resource settings. The research will involve gathering data and feedback from local communities to ensure the intervention is culturally and contextually appropriate.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce hospital readmissions and improve the overall well-being of individuals with severe mental illness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that Critical Time Intervention has been effective in other contexts, suggesting potential for success in this adaptation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kwazulu-Natal
Durban, South Africa Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Janse Van Rensburg, André — University of Kwazulu-Natal
- Study coordinator: Janse Van Rensburg, André
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.