According to PAHO/WHO survey on the continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic (January-March 2021), out of 27 countries in the Americas, 60% reported interruptions in services to address mental health-related illnesses. To bridge this gap in care, many countries in the Region have implemented remote care services.
As part of PAHO's technical support to countries, a series of regional virtual sessions were organized earlier this year to equip MHPSS professionals with the necessary skills to provide remote psychological and psychosocial support in the context of the pandemic emergency. The need to create a collaborative space in which to continue learning and exchanging experiences arose in these sessions.
To address this demand, PAHO is launching a community of practice, CoP, which will begin in July and run until the end of the year. The CoP will provide support and guidance on ways to implement the actions needed to strengthen emergency and disaster mental health response using remote methods, share knowledge and cultivate best practices.
Through this initiative, PAHO aims to strengthen technical expertise around remote interventions, especially those linked to emergency scenarios; strengthen access and quality of MHPSS care services for affected populations; and foster collaborative working spaces in the Region, which support a comprehensive and harmonized MHPSS response.
PAHO is very excited about the launch of this initiative and we hope to continue informing you in future newsletters.