Proposed Symposium Title: Mental health crisis and primary care
Learning Objectives: How Primary Care contributes to
Abstract: Primary Care traditionally stands at centre stage during Crisis and continuous to provide care for the population and individuals. There has been a greater demand for primary care in countries where it is already overloaded. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic it will be essential to prevent the primary care system from being overwhelmed owing to the high demand caused by mental health problems. Forgetting or ignoring the lessons of the previous economic crisis by not be responding to the appropriate interventions and public health policies would be a false step.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant loss of life and disruption. The lockdown restrictions that were introduced, whilst necessary to control the virus, had widespread and negative economic consequences, uprooted everyday life, enforced social isolation, and exacerbated health inequalities and caused a raise in Domestic Violence and safeguarding concerns
Reports show that it has affected those with pre-existing mental health conditions. Also, we know that social isolation and quarantine can directly harm people’s mental and emotional wellbeing leading to new mental health problems.
The pandemic affected also the (mental) health of healthcare professionals across the world, having to make impossible decisions and work under extreme pressures.
Key References or Resources: 1. BMA. The impact of COVID-19 on mental health in England. London; 2020.
2. Greenberg N, Docherty M, Gnanapragasam S, Wessely S. Managing mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers during covid-19 pandemic. BMJ. 2020;368:m1211.
3. Rethink. 80% of people living with mental illness say current crisis has made their mental health worse. 2020.
4. Pierce M, Hope H, Ford T, Hatch S, Hotopf M, John A, et al. Mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal probability sample survey of the UK population.
