Studying the Contexts of recent Onset Psychoses in Ethiopia to develop interventions to improve outcomes: the SCOPE study (360G-Wellcome-222154_Z_20_A)

Our proposed Research Enrichment activity will focus on social contact-based public engagement to support the SCOPE project goals of achieving earlier and better care for people with psychosis in Ethiopia. We will target 5 groups identified as playing a key role in rights-based care pathways and recovery from psychosis in the SCOPE study sites: police, religious leaders, university and high school students, general health workers, and journalists. Our approach will be participatory and geared towards achieving ongoing engagement that endures beyond the timescale of the project. Proposed activities over four years: 1) equipping service users and researchers to co-develop social contact interventions, 2) participatory planning/co-development of engagement materials and strategies with target group members, and 3) delivering three engagement activities per target group with iterative learning and refining of the approach through participatory action research. What we will have achieved: \- 5 members of the Ethiopian Mental Health Service User Association trained as trainers in empowerment methods and evidence-based social contact approaches. \- 24 Ethiopian researchers and 24 people with psychosis empowered and equipped to co-develop and conduct social contact-based engagement. \- 5 distinct packages of social contact-based, multi-media engagement activities co-developed with members from each target group. \- 15 engagement activities with approximately 400 participants from target groups, identification of mental health champions and creation of a forum for ongoing dialogue about how to achieve earlier detection and better care for people with psychosis, and facilitate uptake of SCOPE findings \- Evidence on the acceptability, feasibility and potential impact of our engagement activities.