Disasters Newsletter N.131.- Strengthening the mental health response and psychosocial support in the COVID-19 pandemic

Strengthening the mental health response
and psychosocial support in the COVID-19 pandemic

Through the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), the countries of the Region, with the support of PAHO/WHO, have trained non-specialist health workers to identify, manage, and refer people with mental health conditions.

Professionals from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Hondu- ras, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela participated in the last mhGAP course. The mhGAP program also emphasizes aspects such as the creation of a team in charge of implementing the program, monitoring and evaluation, monitoring of implementation indicators, access to medicines, and clinical and administrative supervision.

When mental health is included in primary care, mental health services are brought closer to the community. This contributes to the prevention of mental illness and the promotion of mental health and to breaking the barriers of stigma and discrimination, promoting systems for referral and back-referral to specialized services and quality care with community participation and user empowerment.