‘Learning from the impact of COVID-19 measures: finding the balance between physical and mental health’ – REPORT

Learning from the impact of COVID-19 measures: 
finding the balance between physical and mental health

Organised by GAMIAN-Europe in partnership with the European Psychiatric Association (EPA)

15 July 2020
Between 12:00 and 13:30 CET
Virtual Meeting

On behalf of the MEP Alliance for Mental Health the undersigned would like to warmly invite you to participate in our upcoming virtual meeting, addressing the mental health impact of the measures taken to best manage and control the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The meeting will take place on 15 July between 12.00 and 13.30.

Although life in many countries is returning back to a certain level of normality, the impact and effects of the pandemic – in particular that of the measures taken to best manage and control it – are by no means negligible.

The above is underlined by many relevant stakeholders and organisations, such as the UN, issuing a warning about the world ‘facing a pandemic of mental health problems brought about by the coronavirus situation worldwide’.

While governments and authorities have taken measures to protect the physical health of their citizens, these measures on the other hand have had and are having mental health impacts.

What, for instance, does it mean when grandparents cannot see their grandchildren for an extended period of time? And how to cope with the passing of relatives, not being able to be there?

The lateral consequences of ‘promoted isolation’, ‘social distancing’ and ‘economic lockdown’ will become apparent soon; therefore, it would seem appropriate to already reflect on what can be learnt from what has happened.

Therefore, this meeting will specifically look at the mental health impact and influence of the measures taken to contain the pandemic. Specific attention will be paid to the flow and content of the information provided to the general public and the way care – as well as access to care – was organised during the crisis.

The views of those affected by mental ill health as well as those of their family carers will be the starting point for the discussion. 

In short, the July meeting will have the following objectives:

– to help raise awareness of the mental health impact of the measures taken to control the pandemic on patients and their carers;

– to extract lessons to be learnt from the experience of patients and carers, serving to underline the need to put in place measures that proactively maintain mental health and prevent mental ill health, now as well as in the future

– to bring together relevant stakeholders involved to explore and discuss potential actions and cooperation.

We would be delighted if you would be available to join us on this occasion. If you are interested, please click  here to register. A draft agenda will be sent in the short term.

Thank you in advance for your attention and interest and we look forward to greeting you on 15 July.

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