Workshop discusses integrating mental health into PHC settings

A two-day virtual workshop on 5-Steps Patients’ Interview for Providing Mental Health Care approach at the primary health care (PHC) centres commenced on Monday.

Organised by the Mental Health Section of the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) Directorate General of Primary Health Care, the workshop aims at activating the integration of mental healthcare services into the primary healthcare centres, as well as enhancing the competence of the medical staff to diagnose early and treat the common mental disorders.

Around 90 family medicine doctors, general practitioners, psychologists, heads of mental health, and mental health focal points at governorates participate in the workshop moderated by the international expert Dr Abdullah al Khathami, consultant family and director of Initiative Primary Mental Health Care Program in Saudi Arabia.

The workshop introduces a new concept that focuses on enhancing competency to better diagnose the most common mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression, and the appropriate referrals to people experiencing a mental health crisis to specialised health facilities through implementing the five steps approach.

The workshop is part of the training programmes provided by the Ministry of Health to qualify medical professionals in the field of mental health and thus upgrading the provided health care services in the sultanate.