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08:28 p.m.
Sunday April 26, 2020
Dialogue – Ahmed Jumaa:
Dr. Menen Abdel Maqsoud, Head of the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment of the Ministry of Health, revealed that he received around 800 consultations through the hotline to provide psychological support to the emerging crisis of the Corona virus, from its activation in early April.
“Al-Maqsoud” said in an interview with Masrawy today that a group of doctors and specialists has been sent to 14 isolation hospitals so far to provide psychological support to the wounded and to medical teams alike, explaining that they have prepared a list of psychological and neurological side effects for medications obtained by Corona patients, AND how to treat it.
He noted that children and adolescents are the most affected by the imposition of quarantine due to Corona … and the text of the dialogue:
At the beginning … What is the role of the Secretary of Mental Health to address the crisis in Corona?
Our role is divided into two aspects: the first is psychological support in this crisis, and the second is to take into account patients in mental health hospitals.
For psychiatric patients, all precautions were taken in hospitals from the beginning of the crisis until today, as psychiatric patients are divided into 3 groups: adult psychiatric patients, pediatric and adolescent patients, and addiction patients.
Emphasis was placed on personal hygiene procedures and surfaces, the application of physical separation, the activation of telemedicine services and the use of the Internet to communicate with patients, and this system began in the clinic for children and adolescents in all hospitals. , and the phones that we work in the adults and addictions departments were received.
What about the internal departments of mental health hospitals?
We had a keen interest in monitoring temperatures and hygiene, and preventing anyone suffering from high temperature or respiratory symptoms from entering patients, and this applies to patients, medical staff, and all hospital personnel.
The Corona crisis has had a great impact on society. How do you deal with that?
Regarding the psychological support procedures for the community in general, the society was divided into 3 groups in this crisis, namely: patients with coronavirus, medical personnel and health care providers and all employees of isolation hospitals, fevers and chests, and finally the general public.
For the public, two hotlines were dedicated to the public: 0800800777 and 0220816831 to receive their queries and questions throughout the day.
How many inquiries has the hotline received so far?
The hotline until March 31 worked during regular business hours from nine to three or four in the afternoon, but since the beginning of April the number of employees has increased to increase the service provided to the public, and it works throughout the week for 24 hours as we try to increase the number of lines for the next period.
The calls we receive have increased tenfold, and we have reached over 800 calls since the beginning of this month, although we have been reaching this number throughout the year.
This service is not limited to receiving only the patient’s complaint, but receives a call from one of the specialists and a psychological treatment session is being implemented for the public by phone, and we are happy with the youth based on this service , and the effort and training they have received, since the experts carried out extensive training. Foreigners and Egyptians to achieve this result.
What about psychological support teams in isolated hospitals?
For medical personnel, there is an unspecified number line for health care providers within isolation hospitals to assist them in case of psychological counseling.
Furthermore, Dr. Hala Zayed, Minister of Health, told us that doctors in isolation hospitals need a psychiatrist to be with them, and immediately some of the specialists have been trained online, and doctors and specialists have been sent to 14 hospitals to isolate themselves so far, and visit patients who need psychological support, and some Wounded are mentally ill and follow written treatment and safety with the medications they receive.
There are also some patients who have suffered a psychological crisis as a result of having Corona, and need psychological support and sessions to help them overcome it.
Are you reviewing the medications these patients receive?
The Ministry of Mental Health released a list of known psychological and neurological side effects of medications obtained by Corona patients, antiviral and bacterial medications, and we prepared a list of these medications, their side effects, and how to treat them.
We have also put together another list of psychological medications that we can safely use for patients receiving psychiatric treatment so there is no overlap between medications and each other, and thanks to the Department of Research and Pharmacy and Medical Affairs.
We have had strong communication since the beginning of the crisis with various international organizations, such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF and more than one local institution, headed by the armed forces, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Tanta, Beni Suef and the Department of Psychiatry of the Maadi Hospital, to achieve good production and provide services to the rest of the target groups.
Which groups are most affected by the Corona crisis?
Let’s say that all of society was affected by the Corona crisis, and the crisis affected everyone, either locally or globally, because most people are in quarantine, but the psychological crisis mainly affects groups that love to start as children and adolescents, where they want to go out a lot, then the second category, husbands and wives. There are many marriages that were stable because there is an aspect of being and a side of space, and this is healthy, and being in one place for a long time can cause some problems, although in some cases it improves marital status.
As for the elderly, they are already present in the homes, so the damage they have is somewhat less serious, but care must be taken to take care of themselves.
Does quarantine affect drug use rates?
We must know that addiction patients have stages of recovery, close recovery often has the necessary sources of support to complete treatment, and believes that being at home is prevention rather than being among bad friends. As for the other group that is at the beginning of the treatment, the stone may represent weakness.
In order not to leave our patients, we implement sessions in group groups, either with “zoom” or similar means of communication, and group therapy is one of the most beneficial treatments, and with them a group of doctors and we will not leave them.
Is anxiety beneficial or harmful?
Anyone can suffer anxiety to protect themselves against the crown, but increased anxiety affects negatively and we must follow the procedures and precautions that have been circulated by the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health to prevent the virus.
Anxiety also causes a change in mood, isolation and prohibition leads to anxiety, tension and depression, and we deal with this with practical things from inside the home, such as communicating with family members by phone and the Internet or learn something new and complete practical tasks every day.
Also, you shouldn’t be overly vigilant about news because it increases tension, so time should be allocated to viewing it from trusted sources and stick to a specific schedule for various activities.
Do you expect a change in citizens’ behavior after the end of the Corona crisis?
We are currently living in a period of severe pressure on people and we hope that people will change their behavior after the crisis, be more careful with their health and time, communicate more with their family and friends and will leave a positive psychological impact by guaranteeing healthy behaviors and commitment over time.
