COVID-19 will have a lasting impact on mental health

Rigorous epidemiological measures, which were applied to bend the coronavirus curve, stop transmission and reduce the pressure on the health system, have yielded results in the past, but the price we all pay, in terms of economic and social slowdown, is very high. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic will have a lasting impact on mental health, said Minister of Health Jelena Borovinić Bojović at the Summit on Mental Health, organised by the Greek Government in cooperation with the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

During the online participation in the Summit, which was opened by Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis and WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge, Minister Borovinić Bojović emphasised that this important gathering is happening at a critical moment.

The Government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Health, which are dedicated to the goals of sustainable development and universal health care, recognise the importance and need to continuously strengthen the mental health of the entire population, with strong primary health care, as a framework for strengthening mental health and improving the quality of mental health services that are equally accessible to everyone. There is no alternative to creating opportunities for a personalised approach to mental health and finding innovative solutions in order to improve mental health services, said Borovinić Bojović.

The Minister said that it is time to invest more in mental health services, adding that this crisis is an opportunity to build a mental health system that will be ready to respond to future challenges and crises. The Minister of Health particularly referred to the potential offered by digital technologies and the need to strengthen human resources in the provision of high-quality mental health services.