Emerging Mental Health Challenges, Strategies and Opportunities in the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives from South American Decision-makers
Authors: Antiporta Daniel A. , Bruni Andrea 
Published: July 2020

Background

Mental health awareness has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although international guidelines address the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) response to emergencies, regional recommendations on COVID-19 are still insufficient. We identified emerging mental health problems, strategies to address them, and opportunities to reform mental health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic in South America.

Methods

An anonymous online questionnaire was sent to mental health decision-makers of Ministries of Health in 10 South American countries in mid-April 2020. The semi-structured questionnaire had 12 questions clustered into 3 main sections: emerging challenges in mental health, current and potential strategies to face the pandemic, and, key elements for mental health reform. We identified keywords and themes for each section through summative content analysis.

Findings

An increasing mental health burden and emerging needs are arising as direct and indirect consequences of the pandemic among health care providers and the general population. National lockdowns challenge the delivery and access to mental health treatment and care. Strategies to meet these health needs rely heavily on timely and adequate responses by strengthened mental health governance and systems, availability of services, virtual platforms, and appropriate capacity building for service providers. Short- and medium-term strategies focused on bolstering community-based mental health networks and telemedicine for high-risk populations. Opportunities for long-term mental health reform entail strengthening legal frameworks, redistribution of financial resources and collaboration with local and international partners.

Interpretation

Mental health and psychosocial support have been identified as a priority area by South American countries in the COVID-19 response. The pandemic has generated specific needs that require appropriate actions including: implementing virtual based interventions, orienting capacity building towards protection of users and health providers, strengthening evidence-driven decision making and integrating MHPSS in high-level mechanisms guiding the response to COVID-19.

Funding

None.

Research in context

Evidence before this study

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health and wellbeing as well as its determinants. General population have reported anxiety and stress while health professionals fear, and bereavement. Mental health services have also been overburdened as the health needs increase as consequence of the pandemic and the isolation measures in place. The WHO General director has recognized mental health and psychological support (MHPPS) as a major pillar in the overall health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) published a global briefing recommending eight MHPPS interventions to be implement during the crisis. Nonetheless, evidence to guide action at regional and sub-regional levels is still insufficient.

Added value of this study

This study provides expert perspectives of decision-makers about mental health burden and actions during the COVID-19 in South America, currently the most serious hub of infection worldwide. Health services have reported an increase of anxiety, stress and fear among the general population emerging during the pandemic. The pandemic has generated specific needs that require appropriate actions including implementing virtual based interventions, bolstering community-based mental health networks, and integrating MHPSS in high-level mechanisms guiding the response to COVID-19. Decision-makers identified opportunities to seize for long-term mental health reform such as strengthening legal frameworks, redistribution of financial resources and collaboration with local and international partners.

Implications of all the available evidence

The importance of this research goes beyond documenting the status quo of mental health at country level, but implies fostering, enhancing and expanding collaborations in the Sub-region to strengthen the mental health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Country-cooperation initiatives in mental health have been an important strategy to improve local mental health systems and services. Our findings are expected to better orient next steps in making decisions on mental health policies and services in South America, but also to inform public health key leaders and mental health experts within and beyond the Region of the Americas.