Article Image Alt Text

Dr. Anselm Hennis, Director of the Department of Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).

Scaling up of mental health interventions key amidst pandemic

A call has been made for the scaling up of proven mental health strategies and interventions that can assist persons whose mental health conditions have been brought about or exacerbated by the present COVID-19 pandemic.

The call came recently from Dr. Anselm Hennis, Director of the Department of Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). Dr. Hennis was at the time speaking during one of PAHO’s webinar series, focusing on “Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic”.

He stressed that measures designed to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, coupled with the associated high disease-related burden and job losses, have increased the likelihood of individuals to either battle with mental health conditions for the first time or in other cases, to see an exacerbation of their pre-existing mental health conditions. He meanwhile noted that there has been restricted access to services, which such persons are in need of.

“The PAHO/WHO Rapid Assessment Survey recorded important disruptions in mental health services across the Americas. Populations in vulnerable circumstances, particularly women, young people, groups in the lower economic status and people with pre-existing mental health conditions, have been significantly affected by the pandemic and report high levels of anxiety and depression,” Dr. Hennis pointed out.

He added, “Despite the acknowledgement of the impact of mental health, scaling up of proven mental health strategies and interventions remains a challenge and the stigmatisation and discrimination and human rights abuses of persons with mental health conditions continues.”

Pointing out that one in four persons will experience mental health conditions in their lifetime, he suggested that the time has come to recognise issues with mental health as being amongst the other non-communicable diseases. Stressing that there remains a large gap between the global mental health burden and investment, with countries setting aside an average of 42% of their health budgets for mental health conditions, Dr. Hennis suggested that much more must be done to scale up services and invest in better care and treatment for those affected.

Barbados Advocate

Mailing Address:
Advocate Publishers (2000) Inc
Fontabelle, St. Michael, Barbados

Phone: (246) 467-2000
Fax: (246) 434-2020 / (246) 434-1000