Mental Health A Serious Issue In The Region

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging countries in the region to step up efforts to combat mental health, which it says has been increasing rapidly due to the current pandemic. Assistant Director at PAHO, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, said although many countries have acknowledged that mental health is a priority, many have fallen short of ensuring access to mental health services at a time when support for this is much needed. He is encouraging people of all countries to take care of themselves and seek assistance for any mental health problems since he believes the effect brought about by COVID-19 will continue long after the pandemic is over. Dr. Barbosa said according to a recent study in Latin America, healthcare workers have been adversely affected by mental health issues due to the pandemic. The PAHO Assistant Director is also concerned about people who already suffer from mental health problems and now have the added stress of the pandemic to deal with. He is hoping countries take heed and allocate resources towards seeking to curb these mental health issues faced by all.