Rethinking mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic; Proceedings of the Fourth Southeast Asia Mental Health Forum, 08-09 October 2020, Philippines

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had pervasive effects on the society at large, specifically disrupting routine and established processes at the household, organizational, and community levels. The Philippine Psychiatric Association organized the Fourth Southeast Asia Mental Health Forum to discuss issues and share experiences on how this community can respond to the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Three common challenges for the mental health community were identified – (a) ensuring the continuity of services for persons with psychiatric disorders in different settings; (b) preventing spread of COVID-19 infection in in-patient or residential mental health facilities; and (c) emergent demand for mental health services from health workers and the general population experiencing psychological symptoms because of the pandemic situation. In the face of these challenges, two broad groups of good practices and innovations were conceptualized and implemented by professionals and institutions: (a) development of alternative arrangements for the delivery of mental health services; and (b) mobilization of stakeholders and resources to ensure a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches. The lessons and ideas that emerged from the forum may find applicability not only in the next few months during which COVID-19 may persist in our midst (i.e., the “new normal”), but also in other future events that may cause the same level of societal impact and disruption.