Mónica Seidi marked World Mental Health Day by recalling challenges to overcome in this field - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Desporto

The Regional Secretariat for Health and Sport, through the organisation of the Azores Mental Health Structure (ESMA), marked World Mental Health Day today.

The motto "Mental Health is a universal human right" was proposed by the World Health Organisation for international celebrations in 2023, marking 75 years of defending mental health as one of the human rights. 

The event was held at the Tomás de Borba School Auditorium in Angra do Heroísmo. It was attended by the Coordinator of the Mental Health Structure, Henrique Prata Ribeiro, accompanied by Liliana Valpaços, who has already worked in this field with the Azores, through FLAD - Luso-American Development Foundation.

The Regional Secretary for Health and Sport pointed out that "since mental health is a universal right," one might think " it is a given, but it is not."

"Long before we reach therapy and eventual treatments, there are still obstacles to overcome, first and foremost the issue of accessibility. Mental illness is often not visible. And as such, it is often undervalued," emphasised Mónica Seidi.

While recognising that the Region urgently needs to increase the number of professionals working in this area, namely psychiatrists, Mónica Seidi pointed out that the Regional Government has taken measures to address this shortage in order to provide better care to these patients.

The government official recalled that ESMA launched the referral criteria for psychiatric hospital consultations in April of this year, providing primary care physicians with tools to optimise their strategies for patients, as well as the team of physicians who will begin hospital consultations at the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in November, reducing the waiting time for the first hospital consultation.

"This November, we will finally open the courtyard at the Santo Espírito Hospital on Terceira Island, living up to the motto that mental health is a universal right, as patients will be able to enjoy an outdoor space within the hospital itself," she said.

She continued: "The Regional Government of the Azores is in tune with the World Health Organisation in its commitment to Mental Health. In addition to the Regional Directorate for Health having mental health staff, the Regional Government has decided to move forward with the creation of the Azores Mental Health Structure so as to perceive the actual needs of the population in this area and, accordingly, provide the responses that are actually needed in a structured manner."