Priorities for improving mental health services in the context of the current Syrian crisis

• Autor(a) principal: Elshazly, Mohamed
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10362/26823
• topic: Mental Health Services; Humanitarian emergencies; Syrian crisis; Serviços de Saúde Mental; Emergências humanitárias; Crise Síria; Ciências Médicas

ABSTRACT: Humanitarian emergencies have a major impact on both general, and mental health services. With an increased rate of mental health problems, weakened mental health infrastructure, and challenges with coordination of aid efforts, a special consideration is needed for mental health of impacted populations. Despite these challenges, emergencies should also be seen as opportunities and policy windows to work on plans for improving and re-innovating mental health services. The Syrian crisis is entering its seventh year, with a number of causalities and displaced persons that looks unprecedented in the region. Many stakeholders are involved in the provision of mental health services in Syria, and developing a priority agenda for areas of improvement in mental health services may help to coordinate efforts, and ensure sustainable solutions. The aim of the current study is to contribute to the development of a consensus-based agenda for these areas of work through the analysis of the responses from 40 surveyed professionals, both national and international, who have work experience with mental health services in Syria. The results of the study showed that priority areas for improving mental health services in Syria are (in a descending order) developing mental health policy and plan, integration of mental health services into primary health care, plans for increase the number and promote training of human resources working in the mental health field, organization of mental health services, public education and awareness campaigns, financing of mental health services, establishing user/consumer associations and family associations, mental health legislation, inclusion of mental health categories in national health information system, and mental health research agenda. Much of this consensus goes in line with initiatives and directions adopted by different stakeholders: government, UN agencies, and non-governmental organizations. More efforts are needed to reflect the view of other actors from different sectors, and agree on an implementation framework that serves a strategic value.