Launch of the Virtual Course: Capacity Building for the Operationalisation and Facilitation of mhGAP Trainings - 2020/21

As part of PAHO's technical support to countries, a virtual course has been organized on PAHO's public health virtual campus on capacity building for the operationalization of the mhGAP programme and to facilitate mhGAP training.  

The mhGAP programme started in the Americas region in 2010 with the implementation of many trainings for primary health care personnel in the mhGAP operational guide. However, during these years new challenges have emerged, especially in terms of implementing and making effective the integration of mental health in primary care and further strengthening the capacities of professionals to facilitate trainings.  

In this context of COVID 19, where we are witnessing an increase in stressors that can lead to an increase in mental health conditions, this course aims to reduce the current gap in mental health, making effective its integration into the different levels of care of the health services network.  

The participating countries are Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. The profiles of the participants are, on the one hand, those responsible for the management of the health services in charge of the integration of mental health and mental health professionals.  

PAHO sees this as a great opportunity to learn, to share experiences between different countries and to implement operational plans for mhGAP that will make quality mental health services more accessible to the population.