ISSSTE: pioneer in emergency mental health care

For the first time in the history of the Institute, there is a project that proposes powerful actions for the comprehensive management of mental health emergencies at the three levels of care, reports Dr Ramiro López Elizalde, Health Regulatory Director.

The National Mental Health Headquarters of the ISSSTE has established the “Guide 20 for the comprehensive management of mental health emergencies, code press”, the purpose of which is to establish guidelines to provide care to the psychiatric decompensated patient “these guidelines allow a “Timely and effective intervention to restore the balance of these patients and ensure their integrity as well as that of their families, even more so in times of pandemic in which mental health problems in the general population have increased in a parallel manner”, emphasized López Elizalde .

Dr. Lucía Ledesma Torres, National Head of Mental Health at ISSSTE, in turn explained that mental health emergencies are all transient situations that alter mental functions, i.e. any emotional and behavioral change that may cause harm. other people or yourself, so they need immediate and effective care by the health team, which aims to alleviate this situation from the first contact.

Currently, there is an infrastructure of 57 census beds for this type of emergency nationwide. The press code is implemented in:

• 14 regional hospitals.
• National Medical Center 20 November.
• 27 General Hospitals.
• 1 Clinic of Neuropsychiatric Specialties.
• 1 unit with 16 beds installed, in the HG “Matilde Petra Montoya Lafragua”.

López Elizalde said that among the benefits of implementing the press code, the following stand out: the improvement of interaction between the beneficiary and the treatment team, the active incorporation of the patient’s family, the reduction of the gap in mental health care, the savings in costs for the Institute by reducing surrogate care and improving the quality of care with full compliance with human rights.

Finally, the Regulatory Director of Health highlighted the multidisciplinary participation of the medical and paramedical staff, from the areas of nursing, emergencies, ongoing admission, psychiatry, psychology, social work, internal medicine, neurology, portable and all those health professionals who contribute. to the comprehensive care of these cases.

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