30 Years After the Declaration of Caracas:
What is the Status of Mental Health Services?

In November 1990, at the Regional Conference for the Restructuring of Psychiatric Care in Latin America, held in Caracas, Venezuela, the Caracas Declaration was signed, aimed - among other objectives - at promoting respect for the human and civil rights of persons with mental health conditions and at restructuring psychiatric care on the basis of primary health care within the framework of local health systems.

This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration of Caracas, which marked an important shift in the mental health care paradigm in the Region of the Americas, towards the decentralization of mental health services to the community and the promotion and protection of human rights of persons with mental health conditions. On this occasion, PAHO will hold a regional virtual symposium on Friday, November 13, 2020, to commemorate the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration.

The event will unite countries in the Region to reflect on the progress that has been made, share national experiences, and establish next steps for continuing to advance the processes of deinstitutionalization, the strengthening of community care, and the integration of mental health into all levels of care in the health system. 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

• DAY: Friday, 13 November 2020
• TIME: 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Washington, D.C. time (Check here the time in your zone)
• LINK TO REGISTER (simultaneous translation in English and Spanish will be available): https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rbcasMa3SHSfy6yrBAN4XQ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

AGENDA 

• 10:00 am - Opening remarks. Dr. Anselm Hennis, Director, Department   of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, PAHO  


• 10:10 am - Panel on the way forward.

  Moderator: Dr. Renato Oliveira e Souza, Unit Chief, Mental Health and Substance Use Unit, PAHO 

  - Dr. Devora Kestel, Director, Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, WHO

  - Dr. Benedetto Saraceno, Secretary General, Lisbon Institute of Global Mental Health

  - Dr. Yuri Cutipé, Director of Mental Health Minister of Health, Peru

  - Dr. Cecilia Guillen, Coordinator En Primera Persona A.C.



• 10:50 am - Country experiences.

  - Dr. Matías Irarrázaval, Director of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Chile

  - Dr. Alejandro Uribe, Director of Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Dominican Republic

  - Dr. Hazel Othello, Director of Mental Health Unit, Ministry of Health, Trinidad and Tobago



• 11:20 am - Launch of  “Deinstitutionalization of Psychiatric Care in Latin America and the Caribbean”

  - Dr. Renato Oliveira e Souza, Unit Chief, Mental Health and Substance Use Unit, PAHO 



• 11:35 am - Question and answer session  


• 11:50 am - Closing remarks. 

  - Dr. Renato Oliveira e Souza, Unit Chief, Mental Health and Substance Use Unit, PAHO

LIVE BROADCAST

Time correspondence 

• 7:00 am.– Los Angeles
• 9:00 am. – Belmopan, Guatemala City, Mexico City, Managua, San José (CR), San Salvador, Tegucigalpa
• 10:00 am. – Bogota, Havana, Kingston, Lima, Panama City, Quito, , Washington DC
• 11:00 am. – Bridgetown, Caracas, Port of Spain, Santo Domingo, San Juan
• 12:00 pm. – Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Montevideo, Paramaribo
• 4:00 pm. – Geneva

For other cities, check the time in the following link