Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, affirmed his full support for initiatives and programs concerned with mental health and instilling a culture of recovery from mental disorders, and rehabilitation, which contributes to improving the quality of life of citizens and facing the changes that occur in societies.
This came during a meeting held by the Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, on Sunday evening, to follow up the preparations for launching an initiative aimed at supporting the mental health of different age groups, as part of the state’s efforts to take care of the public health of citizens.
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, indicated that the minister discussed during the meeting the axes and mechanisms of work in the initiative, which focus on (research axis, awareness axis, service axis in medical facilities, services provided remotely).
Abdel Ghaffar explained that the minister discussed the mechanisms for updating work tools in the National Survey of Mental Disorders, drug abuse, disability, and the impact of the Corona pandemic on the mental health of citizens, in addition to updating the map of treating addiction patients, stressing the importance of the research axis in proper planning of mental health services, and analyzing The behaviors of individuals with mental disorders, the availability of psychological services, and the facilitation of integrating patients into society.
Abdul Ghaffar pointed out that the minister stressed the importance of mental health education and awareness campaigns targeting different ages, and their importance to the individual and society, to limit the spread of negative psychological phenomena, change citizens’ misconceptions and remove the stigma about mental illness, which contributes to reducing some psychological phenomena that have spread. recently in societies.
He added that the meeting discussed the mechanisms of integrating mental health services within the medical care services provided to citizens in coordination between the various sectors of the ministry, and the training of health service providers on guidelines for diagnosing mental illnesses through training courses and programs provided to (doctors, nursing, psychological and social specialists). ).
“Abdul Ghaffar” added that the minister was also briefed on the progress of work on mental health services and consultations provided “remotely” through hotlines, and the national electronic platform for mental health services and addiction treatment, as this platform received 48,000 visitors within 5 months since its launch, directing Increasing the cadres working in these electronic services.
He pointed out that the minister followed up the progress of work on the ongoing equipment in the centers of excellence dedicated to treating children with autism, and it includes 6 centers distributed over the governorates.
He revealed that the minister stressed the importance of integrating mental health initiatives for school students, as he followed up on the mechanisms for implementing the school mental health program in educational facilities, which was applied to a group of schools in 2017, directing the circulation of this model, which aims to help teachers enhance understanding of the importance of mental health in the environment. school, follow-up on child development, provide appropriate interventions for those suffering from mental disorders, and distinguish between signs of mental illness and psychological stress that appear on children.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohamed Hassani, Assistant Minister of Health for Public Health Initiatives, and Dr. Manen Abdel-Maqsoud, Head of the General Secretariat of Mental Health at the Ministry of Health.