Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) remains one of the priorities for the Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya. In particular, a four-day training session for medical workers on the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) has recently been completed.

Thirty medical workers from the Vynohradiv district of Zakarpattia region took part in the first training session, working with qualified trainers – pediatric psychiatrist and psychotherapist Svitlana Apostol and general practitioner-family medicine doctor Ivan Kutchak.

During the training, participants learned about the key components of mhGAP, principles of care and clinical practice, discussed the importance of early detection of mental disorders, touched upon the issues of depression, self-harm, disorders related to psychoactive substance use, and other important mental health complaints. All methodological and instructional materials used complied with verified international standards, in particular the WHO Global Mental Health Gap Action Programme, which includes the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Programme "How Are U?".

The knowledge and skills acquired will enable primary care physicians to identify mental health problems in patients in a timely manner, provide the necessary assistance, or, if necessary, refer the client to a psychiatrist.

There was a clear demand for such training for healthcare workers, including family doctors and nurses. The participants had sufficient professional experience but needed additional professional support, answers to pressing questions, opportunities to exchange experiences with colleagues, etc. All these activities were also included in the training session. At the end of the session, the participants took a test. Successful completion of the test confirmed the high professional level of the medical workers, the demand for the knowledge gained, and the relevance of the topics included in the training program. In the future, clinical supervision awaits the program participants.

For reference: mhGAP, or Mental Health Gap Action Programme, is a global initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) that aims to improve access to mental health services by involving non-specialist health workers, such as family doctors, in the provision of care. The mhGAP program provides tools and recommendations for managing common mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in non-specialized health care settings. This allows people to receive care closer to home, from their family doctor, rather than only in specialized psychiatric facilities.