Katherine Trujillo, Eduardo Najar
Latin Agency for Medicine and Public Health News
Exclusively for the journal of Medicine and Public Health, different specialists talk about health in Puerto Rico during the pandemic. On the occasion of the inauguration of the Partial Hospitalization Clinic on the premises of the San Juan Capestrano Hospital, the doctors and a health educator made a call to connect with mental health from a positive vision despite the moments that the island lives.
In the interview, specialist Jaime Torres Plata, psychiatrist and president of the Medical School of the health center, spoke about the use and abuse of substances and alcohol, and how the hospital will be able to provide adequate treatment to patients, in charge of the new partial clinic. For his part, Dr. Martín Rivera Co-director of 5 partial hospitalization programs highlighted the importance of offering intensive outpatient treatments in the fight against substance use and abuse, giving the patient the opportunity to treat themselves in the best way. There was also Dr. William Lugo, psychiatrist and member of the faculty of the San Juan Capestrano Hospital who spoke about the diagnoses in the pandemic and the increase in mental health. Meanwhile, Dr. Elimaliel Suárez, psychologist and director of the Partial Clinic, explained how partial hospitalization works and how it can help the patient. Finally, Ixaza Casillas, a mental health educator, detailed the importance of mental health and the education around it.
Psychiatrist Jaime comments that the cases of substance and alcohol abuse have doubled in Puerto Rico with a 30% increase in occupancy in the medical center, with the arrival of the pandemic it was possible to see that people due to different personal problems and effects virus and isolation.
“That is why it is important to break the schemes of entering a psychiatric hospital, since if the person has symptoms, they can come to a partial treatment, where there is direct supervision and depending on the intensity of those symptoms, if necessary the patient could receive a more intense treatment within the hospital ”affirms the specialist.
Partial hospitalization treatment
Dr. Martín Rivera refers to the treatments since they have had an increase because of the pandemic and this new partial hospitalization program could help these patients, these people need help where the center will give them the doctor assures that they cannot change the disease in a few days these treatments may last for months, but with the collaboration provided in the clinic it can help you and get out of the addiction
“The program is going to touch the acceptance area, this program is divided into three stages, the first stage is a commitment to admit that you have this disease and attack that disease from a health point of view, you need a commitment and this new system we have a clinic directed for this problem, the average time can be between 10 or 12 days ”added the doctor.
Substance abuse symptoms
Another expert William Lugo suggested that the arrival of the pandemic unleashed several factors that caused people to go into depression, there was also an increase in psychotic cases and due to economic complications and others, people fall into abuse of use of substances.
“Depression is going to be noticed in the mood, people will see it sadder but sometimes they can become more irritable, appetite, people with depression also tend to say goodbye and stay away from their loved ones, they have problems to sleep and they start talking about suicide “adds the psychiatrist
The doctor always advises to supervise children in order to identify if they have symptoms of depression since if it is seen in time, adequate help can be given to these people.
Stigma vs medical service
Many people who suffer from some type of mental condition do not usually go to the specialist immediately, this is due to the stigma of what they will say and that is totally harmful because when a condition is not treated, they can go to a more serious diagnosis and of course the both emotional and mental well-being of a certain individual can be affected.
“I like to direct patients to focus on satisfying the need for service and the need for treatment, one of the elements that encourages people to get involved in the stigma process is what they will say about family members or close people when they understand that a person is not well, it is an invitation to put this aside and think that this is their own space and that the patient focuses on stabilizing himself to rejoin his daily life “Dr. Elimaliel deepened.
Support and accompaniment a fundamental tool
Coupling and being willing to help others is essential because in this way not only will the person with a certain emotional instability feel help but will also be able to be rescued from that deep pain that is often not manifested and needs a “push ”To express himself.
“A person who feels trapped who does not find hope and what he receives in return is critical, this person will remain locked in and instead of looking for help will overwhelm himself, and will begin to feel that he has no way out. Suicide is the result of deep emotional pain, so that if we alleviate the pain, the option is life and it can be done by approaching a person without judgment and showing solidarity by providing help ”, concluded Ixaca Casillas.
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