The Tribune

OFFICIALS at the Ministry of Health are exploring an initiative to integrate mental health care services into primary health care facilities as part of a new model of care for patients with mental health concerns.

The integration plan, which health officials say is “affordable”, will enhance early detection and treatment while improving access to mental health care “by offering services in an outpatient setting”.

Health officials say the plan will also “guarantee that people get the mental health care they need”.

Minister of Health Dr Perry Gomez said the integration will also reduce the number of persons needing to spend time in hospital.

Technical Assistance for the proposed integration will be provided by the Pan American Health Organisation.

“The importance of good mental health in any society needs no explanation or justification and is a priority of the government,” Dr Gomez said.

“Good mental health is just as important as good physical health. In fact, there can be no health without mental health.”

A collaboration between the Public Hospitals Authority and the Department of Public Health, the initiative comes at a time when world health officials are projecting that mental and neurological disorders will account for the greatest disease burden by the year 2030.

Dr Gomez said given the “ever present” problems of substance abuse, crime and violence and the increasing trend of suicide and attempted suicide “which continue to have a significant impact on our society,” it is anticipated that the integration plan will have a “significant impact.”

The proposed integration, Dr Gomez said, is considered to be the “most feasible way” of closing the treatment gap while guaranteeing “people get the mental health care they need”.

“It is affordable; enhances early detection and treatment, and improves access to mental health care by offering services in an outpatient setting,” he said.

Dr Gomez said the integration is also “in line” with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) charge to embrace the challenge to impact the burden of diseases by strengthening integrative approaches to primary health care.

Statistics, he said, indicate that a redirection of focus on the global and national burden of diseases that are evolving as a result of poor mental health, chronic non-communicable and communicable diseases including HIV/AIDS, is necessary.

“Chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as injuries related to trauma and violence, are killing our citizens; decreasing productivity for our citizens and will, eventually, decrease our life expectancy,” Dr Gomez said.

“These and other social determinants of health have forced us to redirect our health services to preventative care while at the same time, dealing with the demand for curative care.”