ArticleBMC psychiatry2025
WhatsApp as a tool for psychiatric crisis management: lessons from a Ghanaian support group.
Article in BMC psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Using Group Chats to Drive Behavior Change in Digital Health Interventions: Scoping Review and Realist Synthesis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPsychiatric emergencies, such as psychosis, suicidality, and severe agitation, pose significant challenges in low-resource settings like Ghana, where access to timely care is often limited. Digital communication platforms, particularly WhatsApp, offer promising avenues for supplementing psychiatric support.
methodsThis qualitative program evaluation examined a WhatsApp-based mental health support group operating in Ghana over a ten-year period. The group included mental health service users (MHSUs), caregivers, and professionals. Data were derived from archived chat logs, facilitator notes, and participant reflections. Thematic analysis of data was guided by digital ethnography and narrative reconstruction.
resultsOver the course of a decade, the group successfully averted more than 20 documented psychiatric crises with only one hospitalization reported. The platform enabled early symptom recognition, peer and professional intervention, and timely referrals. The ten MHSUs who contributed reflections were predominantly female, with bipolar disorder being the most common diagnosis.
conclusionWhatsApp-based support groups can serve as vital adjuncts to formal psychiatric care, offering a scalable, community-driven model for crisis monitoring and intervention. The success in Ghana demonstrates the value of integrating digital platforms into national mental health strategies, supported by ethical guidelines and professional oversight. Future studies should evaluate long-term outcomes and explore replication in similar low-resource contexts. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
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