Using Layperson-Delivered Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Address Mental Health Disparities

As mental health needs continue to grow globally, it is critical to address these concerns in a timely and efficient manner. Creative approaches should be developed to reduce disparities in access to mental health care in underserved and under-resourced communities. Exclusively focusing efforts on increasing the number of licensed mental health providers is not likely to yield significant improvements in mental health access as the demands generally greatly outweigh the availability of licensed providers. One alternative solution draws on experience and studies from less-resourced settings that have promoted the use of laypeople in community settings to provide evidence-based interventions. This article reviews the evidence on layperson-delivered cognitive-behavioral interventions, discusses important logistical and ethical issues, and makes suggestions for how to disseminate this model in the United States.