Researching cost-effective approaches to improving mental health and social well-being among elderly women in Tamil Nadu.
We partnered with J-PAL South Asia at IFMR and the Government of Tamil Nadu to fund a large-scale randomized controlled trial evaluating cost-effective approaches to improving mental health and well-being among elderly women.
Grant Description
Tamil Nadu's elderly population is expected to surpass 15 million in the next decade. According to a survey conducted by the Government of Tamil Nadu and J-PAL South Asia, over 30% of elders already experience depression symptoms. Elderly women face the greatest isolation, mobility constraints, and barriers to care. This trial will deliver Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and structured group activities to more than 4,000 elders through Tamil Nadu's existing network of government volunteers.
If effective, this model could be scaled to reach over five million elderly women and serve as a framework for alleviating suffering among aging populations in other low- and middle-income countries.
This grant was made based in part on the strength of the evidence base for both interventions, the opportunity to generate evidence cost-effectively using Tamil Nadu’s existing network, and the potential to scale through existing government infrastructure.
Both interventions have prior RCT support, and the CBT curriculum is adapted directly from a validated program found to reduce depression among elderly in India. The team piloted both interventions with over 750 elders in Tamil Nadu before launching this trial.
At an estimated $0.40 per participant for group activities and estimated $6 for CBT, both delivered through an existing government volunteer network, the cost of running this trial is relatively low. A direct partnership with the Tamil Nadu government could provide a concrete path to scale without building new infrastructure.