In Peru, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the health of the population; especially people with mental disorders, who experienced worsening symptoms, greater disability, and general discomfort.

One of the measures taken by the Peruvian Ministry of Health (MoH) to reduce COVID-19 infections was the publication of regulations for remote health care, aimed at providing care in conditions of isolation and social distance. Likewise, and for the specific case of mental health, the MoH published guidelines for providing care through telemedicine from community mental health centers (CMHC). CMHC are specialized mental health centers at the primary care level, which are at the core of the mental health care network of the community care model.

Considering the effectiveness that mobile health interventions have shown for the provision of mental health care, the purpose of this research project is to develop and test a mobile health strategy to strengthen the community mental health system and thus improve the quality of care of CMHC.

Aim:

This research project aims to develop and test a mobile health strategy to strengthen the community mental health system in Peru.

Study design:

The project comprises two phases to be developed over 2 years.

• Phase 1: Qualitative study that aims to explore the impact of the pandemic on the country’s community mental health system and the CMHCs’ capacity to provide remote care; and co-design sessions to develop a mobile intervention to ease the provision of remote mental health care in public services.
• Phase 2: Pilot study to test the implementation of the co-designed intervention in the participating CMHC.

This project has the support of the Directorate of Mental Health at the MoH.

Result:

The results of this study will reinforce the provision of remote mental health care in the CMHC of Peru.

Contact:

Victoria Cavero, BSc, MSc

victoria.cavero.h@upch.pe