RESUMO
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to community-based rehabilitation (CBR) for persons with mental illness, especially in resource-constrained settings. This column discusses the pandemic-related challenges faced by a rural CBR program in Jagaluru taluk (a subdistrict) in Karnataka, India. Thanks to stakeholder collaboration, task shifting with lay health workers, and implementation of telepsychiatry, the authors' clinical team could ensure uninterrupted medical care for persons with serious mental illness. Other CBR components were reduced because of pandemic-imposed resource and logistic constraints.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Transtornos Mentais , Psiquiatria , Telemedicina , Continuidade da Assistência ao Paciente , Humanos , Índia , Transtornos Mentais/terapia , PandemiasRESUMO
We describe the utility of telephonic aftercare services (including liaising with primary healthcare providers) rendered to persons with psychiatric disorders (n = 1049) during the lockdown period of COVID 19 pandemic in India. Such consultations can be continued even after the COVID 19 period for suitable patients.