Opinion: Gaps in the National Mental Health Policy Act

In early 2020, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Since then, in addition to implementing structures in hospital health systems, it was necessary to adopt global measures to prevent and control disease, so that the best strategy to stop the spread of the virus was social isolation, which culminated in restriction. The movement of people, affecting the daily life of society, the economic and financial sector and the political and cultural dynamics of the country.

With the progress of the epidemic in the country and the increasing number of deaths, totaling more than 600,000, the financial and human losses, as well as the scarcity of relationships, affected the mental health of all the people who experienced the period of the epidemic, since then despite being pre-existing at the moment of facing it, However, symptoms of stress, anxiety, panic and depression affect a large population estimate.

According to research conducted by the USP, about 63% of the Brazilian population suffers from cases of anxiety and 59% from depression. Studies also indicated that Brazil ranks first in the ranking of countries that have suffered the most from restrictions, unemployment and social isolation during the pandemic, confirming that the pandemic scenario has proven to be a traumatic event that transcends people who have already suffered from some. A history of mental disorder.

Access to health care is one of the basic rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution, and when neglected, it violates human rights. It is known that the current political situation in the country has not established a national training strategy so that the population is protected from the effects of catastrophic moments like those that Brazil faced, and it is correct to say that the Brazilian people are undervalued. There is no guarantee of a second-generation right taken away, or better, for all generations, because it is linked to the symbiotic relationship between human and social rights: the right to health.

This is because Law 10216/2001, which governs the National Mental Health Policy Guidelines, completed two decades of guardianship this year, however, there was no reform in this law that could stabilize out-of-hospital services. As noted, it is possible to predict that populations affected by mental health disorders caused by the trauma of the pandemic will have a longer specialized follow-up period than the pandemic itself, and victims who wish to reverse the adverse mental health status benefit from the private health sector. but. Given that the country’s economy has also suffered the effects of the pandemic, more than half of Brazilians cannot afford psychological treatment.

It can be noted that there is no permanent funding, nor public policies to deal with the psychological effects of the pandemic period. There have been several moments of concern with the pandemic declaration, since the enactment of the aforementioned law, however, no planning has been compiled to cover the gap in the legislation on the emergency plan for disaster periods.

Although the Unified Health System provides access to mental care through Law No. 10216/2001, its wording does not specify mental health care in epidemic situations, and even with numerous campaigns to combat disease and mobilization of all dissemination channels, government positions show a lack of funding It is in the health network that public health weaknesses remain rooted in the way government authorities operate.

It is reasonable to expect intensification of psychological distress when there are no results in preventive measures or even progress and possibilities to respond to the mental health needs of the population. It should be noted that sector reform should be on the agenda of the National Congress, however, it is possible on a daily basis to see that this is not the prerogative of the authorities.

There is a clear need to improve the law under discussion. The coronavirus pandemic has been led by painful experiences, losses, mourning and unexpected farewells, which have caused deep sadness in all who have gone through this period. It should not be accepted that legislation is limited to improving and making specialized mental health care services more accessible.

It is precisely necessary to expand the field of competence to meet a series of psychosocial problems and needs of the population, taking into account the nuances of the epidemic period, to adopt appropriate intervention measures for the prevention of psychosocial diseases and the control of all those who suffered from the fruits. From the calamity that the world is going through, so that in addition to providing effective monitoring and emotional and psychological support services, it is essential that the law has the possibility to provide comprehensive care to those affected, in addition to providing psychosocial recovery plans for the average. And in the long term.

Access to health is a fundamental right that must be available to any citizen, because it is entirely linked to human dignity, and the state is responsible for ensuring that every organism receives all appropriate care for prevention, control and recovery. Psychological disorders and psychosocial vulnerabilities that fully affect all relationships of those who live in the social, economic, cultural and political environment.