Background
In 2022, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) established the High-Level Commission on Mental Health and COVID-19, with the overall objective of providing guidance to the Organization and its Member States on strengthening mental health systems and services during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commission is composed of 17 diverse representatives of government, health organizations, academia, civil society, and people with lived experience from across the Region who will meet on at least three occasions to develop recommendations for advancing mental health in the Americas which it will publish in a final report. On 6 May 2022, the Commission held its first formal meeting, which included a discussion on key priority topics for the Commission’s work. To facilitate discussion and the development of recommendations on these priority areas, the Commission formed three Working Groups, which met once virtually in July 2022. A second hybrid meeting of the Commission will be held in person in Washington DC, 13-14 October 2022. During this meeting, the Commission will conduct virtual consultations with representatives of key priority groups and stakeholders. Additionally, the Commission’s Working Groups will meet for a second time to elaborate on their prior discussions and present a summary of their work to date to the Commission as a whole. The Commission will discuss and provide feedback on Working Group recommendations and begin to outline its final report.
Dates and Location
When: Thursday 13 October- Friday 14 October 2022
Where: Washington, D.C, State Plaza Hotel
Meeting Objectives:
- To facilitate virtual consultations between the Commission and key mental health stakeholders in the Region;
- To provide Commission Working Groups with an additional opportunity to meet;
- To present Working Group discussions to the larger Commission;
- To begin formulating the Commission’s recommendations for its final report; and
- To discuss next steps for the Region following the recommendations on mental health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Precautions:
To ensure the safe participation of all, participants are strongly encouraged to respect the following COVID-19 precautions:
- Use a face mask in closed spaces.
- Maintain a distance of 1 meter from other people, when possible.
- To present Working Group discussions to the larger Commission;
- Sanitize their hands before entry to the meeting venue and as frequently as possible. Handwashing facilities and alcohol-based sanitizers will be available and placed at entrances, toilets, and conference rooms.
Additionally, COVID-19 testing kits will be made available for in-person testing.
Agenda for Day 1
8:00 - 9:00 am Breakfast
9:00 - 9:15 am Welcome Remarks and Overview of Day 1
- Commission Co-Chairs
9:15 - 9:30 am Summary of Commission Activities to Date
- Dr. Anselm Hennis, Director, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, Pan American Health Organization
9:30 - 11:00 am Virtual Stakeholder Consultation: Women from the Region
- Led by Vice President Epsy Campbell Barr, Commission Chair
11:00 - 11:15 am Coffee Break
11:15 am - 12:45 pm Virtual Stakeholder Consultation: Racial and Ethnic Minorities from the Region
- Led by Vice President Epsy Campbell Barr, Commission Chair
12:45 - 1:00 pm Group Photo
1:00 - 2:00 pm Lunch
2:00 - 3:30 pm Virtual Stakeholder Consultation: Regional Experts in Mental Health Systems and Services
- Led by PAHO Secretariat
3:30 - 3:45 pm Coffee Break
3:45 - 4:45 pm Presentation of Draft Outline of the Commission's Final Report
- PAHO Secretariat
4:45 - 5:00 pm Conclusion of Day 1
- Commission Co-Chairs
Agenda for Day 2
8:00 - 9:00 am Breakfast
9:00 - 9:15 am Welcome Remarks and Overview of Day 2
- Commission Co-Chairs
9:15 - 10:45 am Presentations by Working Groups to the Commission
- PAHO Secretariat
10:45 - 11:00 am Coffee Break
11:00 am - 12:30 pm Plenary Discussion to Advance the Commission's Recommendations
- Led by Commission Co-Chairs
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 2:30 pm Discussion on Measuring Progress on the Commission's recommendations
- Led by Commission Co-Chairs
2:30 - 3:15 pm Presentation of Commission Communications Strategy
- Led by Arantxa Cayón, Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, Pan American Health Organization
3:15 - 3:45 pm Coffee Break
3:450 - 4:30 pm Next Steps for the Commission
- Led by Vice President Epsy Campbell Barr, Commission Chair
4:30 - 4:45 pm Conclusion of Day 2
- Commission Co-Chairs