10 recommendations to improve mental health in the Americas

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) presented this Friday the report A new agenda for mental health in the Region of the Americas. The result of the High Level Commission on Mental Health and COVID-19, the document contains 10 recommendations to improve mental health and ensure that it is present in countries’ post-pandemic recovery strategies.

The report is based on the principles of universal health coverage, human rights, equity, non-discrimination, the empowerment of people with mental health problems and their families, and a common effort from different sectors to leverage financial resources. , knowledge and skills.

Lack of care and services

During the presentation session The director of the Organization, Jarbas Barbosa, was present, who highlighted the serious consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the increase in people with depression and anxiety and the general interruption of health services, and specifically, mental health.

However, the director emphasized that mental health problems in the region were already worsening before the pandemic began, with the suicide rate increasing by 17% between 2000 and 2019. According to Barbosa, this is due to the sustained inattention and barriers to accessing related services.

“In the Americas, more than 80% of people with a serious mental illness, including psychosis, did not receive treatment in 2020. In addition, existing care is based on confinement and long-term hospitalization, instead of community support. There is also a shortage of trained health personnel and reduced access to services for people living in vulnerable situations.”

In this context, the head of the UN agency urged politicians to ensure that mental health is high on their agenda and integrated into all sectors.

“We have observed the increase in the number of suicides among older people due to depression, but also among young people due to the lack of prospects and inequality which we face throughout the region. Outbreaks have also taken place among indigenous populations,” he noted.

Mental health is not a private battle

Next, the president of the Commission and former vice president of Costa Rica, Epsy Campbell Barr, intervened, who referred to some outstanding aspects of the recommendations contained in the document, such as the creation of strategic alliances and associations at the national and supranational level, the inclusion of mental health in all government policies and the increased resources intended for her.

Other recommendations focus on promoting mental health throughout life and preventing suicide. Likewise, Campbell emphasized the importance of creating policies to guarantee the mental health of young people, address gender inequality and the consequences of intrafamily violence and hegemonic masculinities. It is also essential to combat racism and work with Afro-descendants and indigenous people to guarantee their well-being.

“Mental health is not a private battle, it’s a public crisis, which justifies immediate action; it requires our collective effort. Investing in mental health is crucial to promote equitable development that allows all people to live with well-being and dignity”, declared the director.

Campbell noted that “if we offer accessible, high-quality mental healthwe will enjoy excellent benefits: healthier people with greater resources to face difficulties, better management of emotions and extraordinary abilities to create more harmonious professional, family and personal environments”.

Campbell stressed that investing in mental health also has great economic benefits. For example, for every dollar invested in combating depression and anxiety, four dollars are obtained in health and work capacity.

Holistic and inclusive approach

Finally, the co-chair of the Commission and assistant secretary general of the Organization of American States referred to the recommendations as a map to prioritize mental health in the Americas in a holistic way.

“Our approach to addressing the challenges must span multiple sectors and ensure inclusion – we must engage healthcare professionals, educators, employers, social services and civil society to alleviate these impacts.”

In addition, during the round of questions, Nestor Mendez emphasized the need to allocate 5% of the health budget exclusively to policies that have to do with the protection and promotion of mental health.

Mendez pointed out the importance of end social stigma around mental health in all the countries of the region.