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ArticleTrials2026

Effectiveness of peer counselling in addressing psychological distress and exposure to violence among sexual and gender minorities in Nepal: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Keshab Deuba, Rachana Shrestha, Reena Koju, Manisha Dhakal, James Underhill, Per Einar Binder, Ingvild Fossgard Sandøy, SAATHI study group

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in Trials, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06979193 (Effectiveness of Peer Counseling in Addressing Psychological Distress and Exposure to Violence Among LGBTIQA+ Population in Nepal), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06979193 naactive not recruitingnot on this map

Effectiveness of Peer Counseling in Addressing Psychological Distress and Exposure to Violence Among LGBTIQA+ Population in Nepal: A Three-arm Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorPublic Health and Environment Research Centre (PERC), NepalRan2025 to 2027Enrolled960ConditionsMental Health, Psychological Distress, Secondary Violence Reduction, DiscriminationArmsSAATHI intervention (Augmented PM+ counseling), SAATHI intervention with Peer-Led Group Meetings
3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Keshab DeubaPublic Health and Environment Research Centre (PERC), Lalitpur, Nepal. keshab.deuba@uib.no.
Rachana ShresthaPublic Health and Environment Research Centre (PERC), Lalitpur, Nepal.
Reena KojuPublic Health and Environment Research Centre (PERC), Lalitpur, Nepal.
Manisha DhakalBlue Diamond Society (BDS), Kathmandu, Nepal.
James UnderhillIndependent Researcher, Kingsbridge, UK.
Per Einar BinderDepartment of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Ingvild Fossgard SandøyGlobal Health Epidemiology Group, Centre for International Health (CIH), Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
SAATHI study group

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe burden of social stressors (discrimination, prejudice, violence, and stigmatization) is disproportionately high among LGBTIQA + (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Asexual) individuals. These stressors negatively influence the overall well-being of this population which in turn affects their health-seeking behaviours, including the disclosure of psychosocial concerns to health workers. Peer-led mental health interventions have therefore been identified as a potentially suitable and acceptable approach for this population. This protocol presents the SAATHI (Support, Advocacy, and Awareness for Trauma, Healing and Inclusion) study. The study will assess the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of peer counselling, safety planning, and group-based sessions in reducing exposure to violence and psychological distress among LGBTIQA + individuals in Nepal.

methodsWe will conduct a three-arm randomized controlled trial with a 1:1:1 allocation ratio. At least 1062 LGBTIQA + participants will be enrolled. Eligibility criteria include age 18-55 years, a history of violence in the past 12 months, and a score of ≥ 3 on the General Health Questionnaire, indicating psychological distress. Participants in the intervention arms will receive six 90-min peer-led counselling sessions and one of the arms will receive monthly peer-led group sessions for shared reflection and support. Follow-up assessments will occur at 7 weeks, 18 weeks, and 12 months post-baseline. A qualitative process evaluation will be conducted of the intervention delivery. The primary outcomes are psychological distress and exposure to violence. The secondary outcomes include post-traumatic stress disorder, participant-reported psychological outcomes, daily functioning, self-esteem, self-compassion, perceived social support, use of personal safety strategies, and satisfaction with community resources. We will analyse quantitative data using intention-to-treat principles. For the qualitative data, our approach will be reflexive thematic analysis, which is grounded in a critical realist/contextualist ontology. DISCUSSION: This study ultimately aims to reduce health disparities and improve the health and well-being of LGBTIQA + individuals. If effective, the SAATHI intervention has potential to be sustainable through empowered peer-led networks and scalable in low- and middle-income countries due to its low-cost, community-implemented design.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06979193. Registered on 20 May 2025, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06979193.

Indexed as

CounselingPeer GroupPsychological DistressSexual and Gender MinoritiesStress, PsychologicalViolenceAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMaleMental HealthMiddle AgedNepalRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTime FactorsCommunity-based participatory researchLGBTIQA +Mental healthNepalPeer-led interventionRandomized controlled trialViolence prevention

Identifiers

PMID42304403
PMCPMC13505074

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.