"The satisfaction we get by doing this, you do not get it with any money": Experiences, and motivations of, and strategies used by community volunteers delivering social or health interventions in India

While community volunteers are increasingly recognized for addressing supply-side gaps in healthcare delivery (e.g., provider shortages), their role in mitigating demand-side barriers (e.g., stigma) remains underexplored. This qualitative study investigated the experiences, knowledge, and roles of community volunteers in Goa, India. We examined barriers and facilitators to community-based work, and strategies for integrating community participation and outreach in demand-side interventions. We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 35 community volunteers who deliver health and socio-developmental programs (e.g., “social workers”, village council members, lay health providers). Thematic analysis revealed that volunteers’ work encompassed demand-related tasks such as connecting community members to government welfare schemes, organizing educational events, and providing informational or material resources via contextually-relevant, relationship-driven strategies, such as leveraging influential community leaders and social connections (including via WhatsApp). Participants demonstrated awareness of the social origins of distress (e.g., unemployment), especially post-COVID-19, and expressed willingness to vertically integrate mental health in their work. Facilitators included social recognition, personal satisfaction, and family and political backing. Lack of community support and resources (e.g., insufficient government funding) were significant barriers in continuation of work for community volunteers. These findings suggest the potential of community volunteers as demand-side change agents for mental health interventions, underscoring the necessity of integrating local knowledge, social networks, and non-monetary community-based incentives into scalable global health programs.