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March - April 2011
“The Great Push: Investing in Mental Health"
2011 World Mental Health Day Theme
Javier Vásquez was honored with the 2011 “Peter M. Cicchino Award” of the American University
April 13, Washington, DC: Javier Vásquez, Regional Advisor on Human Rights and Health of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) received the Annual “Peter M. Cicchino Award for Outstanding Advocacy in the Public Interest” of the American University Washington College of Law, in Washington, DC. This program celebrates Professor Cicchino’s outstanding devotion to public interest issues in all aspects of his life by recognizing students and alumni who have demonstrated a similar dedication in their work.
Community nursing in mental health reaching rural communities
 18 February 2011 Belize City – The Ministry of Health (MOH) in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization in Belize (PAHO/WHO) and the Mental Health Association launched the Training of Community Nurses in Mental Health. The launching was held at the UWI Open Campus Belize City with over 170 participating nurses representing the four health regions.
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Bariloche, Argentina: Camino Abierto celebrated its third anniversary
The
Community
Cultural
Center “Camino Abierto” (
Open Road) in Bariloche,
Province of
Río Negro, has just celebrated its third year of existence.
The Center’s objective is to foster an environment of personal growth, enable social reintegration and stimulate and expand individual and group creative activities among users. In order to fight against stigma and social exclusion, people’s rights and needs are promoted by all possible means, with the support of both the family and the community.
Comprehensive care of epilepsy in primary care settings
A technical cooperation project between
Panama, the
Dominican Republic and
Guatemala was approved to be developed during 2011. Its main objective is to reduce the existing treatment gap in epilepsy within the framework of primary health care. Planned activities include working with the module on epilepsy of the mhGAP Intervention Guide (World Health Organization’s mental health Gap Action Programme).
Panama: public policies on alcohol
On April 12,
Panama organized a national workshop to reach a consensus on a final document on public policies regarding the harmful use of alcohol. Institutions from all over the country participated in the workshop, which was coordinated by Marcel Penna, the National Coordinator of Mental Health (Ministry of Health -MINSA). This project is a part of the agreement between the Pan American Health Organization PAHO/WHO and the Comunidad Autónoma de Valencia (
Spain) and involves six countries in the Region.
Panama: “Autism Month”
The President of the
Republic of
Panama has just declared April as “Autism Month”. This decision taken by decree is consistent with the United Nations designation of 2 April as “World Autism Awareness Day”.
Haiti: Progress in mental health
Haiti has completed the collection of data from the evaluation of its mental health system using the World Health Organization Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS). General mental health policy issues were developed as well as an action program for mothers and children under six. This program is designed to address depression in mothers and developmental disorders in kids.
Cuba: mental health component in general hospitals
A workshop within the framework of the technical cooperation project on "Decentralization: to incorporate the mental health component in general hospitals” was held in La Habana on March 15-17. Professionals from the three countries involved (
Cuba,
El Salvador and
Guatemala) participated in the workshop. It was opened by Carmen Borrego, Coordinator of GOSMA (Grupo Operativo de Salud Mental y Adicciones de Cuba). Participants were taken to visit the mental health program implemented by the
Enrique
Cabrera
Hospital in the
Municipality of
Boyeros.
Honduras: National Mental Health Strategy
A workshop to analyze the situation of mental health care in the country was organized at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Office in
Honduras on April 6. The workshop was opened by PAHO’s Representative, Gina Watson and by René Nájera, Director General of Health Promotion. It was attended by members of the National Mental Health Program, hospital directors, departmental mental health coordinators and representatives of the IHADFA, who provided an update on the situation of services in the country. The need was raised to continue adapting the service model to PAHO/WHO Strategy and plan of action on mental health, which was presented by Víctor Aparicio, Subregional Advisor on Mental Health for
Mexico,
Central America and the Latin Caribbean.
Second course on mental health services management
The Second course on mental health services management for Mexico, Central America and the Latin Caribbean will begin next May 30 on PAHO/WHO Virtual Campus of Public Health. The course has a duration of 147 hours (112 on-line and 35 in-person) and is intended for health and mental health professionals that work in public services and manage programs, centers or mental health facilities. Students are nominated by the ministries of health in coordination with the PAHO/WHO Representation in each country.
Ecuador: Inclusion of health personnel in mental health mission
The mental health area of the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador organized the Workshop-Seminar Inclusion of health personnel in the mental health mission. This training was aimed at those responsible for mental health, social communicators and health educators of 24 provinces with the purpose of positioning mental health management in the primary care level.
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Publications
New publications on suicide prevention in Spanish
New Spanish versions the World Health Organization (WHO) worldwide initiative for the prevention of suicide (SUPRE) resource series for “Jail and prisons” (Spanish), “police, firefighters and other first line responders” (Spanish) and “at work” (Spanish) are now available on PAHO/WHO website.
The mhGAP Intervention Guide is already available on PAHO’s website
The mhGAP Intervention Guide (World Health Organization Mental health Gap Action Programme: scaling up care for mental, neurological and substance use disorders) is already available on the Pan American Health Organization website
Interesting Links
Events:
Credits
Editorial Committee: Jorge Rodríguez, Maristela Monteiro, Hugo Cohen, Víctor Aparicio, María Florencia Di Masi y Martha Koev
PAHO’s Mental Health Bulletin is published bimonthly in English and Spanish.
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