Personal information
All data will be pseudonymised to maintain patient confidentiality. All participants will be assigned a participant ID number used for all data processing purposes. Patient identifiable data (participants’ names, contact details, sociodemographic data) and the list linking these data with the participant ID number will be stored on computers using a secure drive, within password-protected folders, which will only be accessible to the research team. All hard copies of data including socio-demographic forms, consent forms and patient receipts will be kept in lockable filing cabinets within premises of SCARF (India), JPMC (Pakistan), and KeH (Pakistan) or Interactive Research and Development (Pakistan) and only accessible by the research team.To further protect confidentiality, we will:Ensure that participants understand during the informed consent process where interviews and focus groups might be audio-recorded, the purpose for the audio-recording, how the audio files will be stored, and who will have access to these files.Remind all participants that they do not have to answer any questions or make any personal disclosures if they do not wish to.Refrain from using participants’ names and the names of mental health services and during audio-recorded interviews. Participants will be reminded to refrain from using personal names or locations where possible at the start of the interview.Consent forms containing personal details of participants will be kept completely separate from the CRFs.Where the researcher has concerns regarding the participant’s safety or the safety of others, through participant disclosures of thoughts/plans of harming themselves or others, then the researcher is obliged to break confidentiality and inform the relevant clinical teams, services and/or authorities. This will be made clear to the participant on the information sheet during the consent process to ensure their understanding.All investigators and study staff will comply with the requirements of the Law 1581 (2012) and Decree 1377 (2013) and any other associated legislation of India and Pakistan regarding the collection, storage, processing, and disclosure of personal information and will uphold the law’s core principles throughout the study.