The Regional Secretary for Health defended in Angra do Heroísmo the implementation of an inclusive mental health model for the Region, similarly to what happens in most industrialised Western countries.
 
"It is perceived that an inclusive, technically grounded, conceptual and mental health plan that congregates various sectoral initiatives allows the collection of relevant data for the evaluation and analysis of the impact on people's quality of life," said Rui Luís.
 
The Regional Secretary spoke at the opening of the scientific symposium "Together for Mental Health," mentioning the measures that will be gradually introduced with the implementation of the Regional Network of Integrated Continuing Care.
 
This network provides for the training of professionals to promote mental health and the fight against prejudice, intervention programmes for vulnerable groups, continuous monitoring and regular analysis of health care and management activity data, and the involvement of patients and families.
 
Speaking at the opening of the symposium, also attended by the Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity, Andreia Cardoso, the Secretary for Health emphasised the cooperation of the institutes responsible for the organisation of the event, the Espírito Santo and São Rafael "casa de saúde" (mental health institutions).
 
"The good example of the organisation of this scientific symposium leads us to think that, given the size and characteristics of the Region, it is possible to go further in terms of complementarity of resources and sharing of knowledge," stressed the government official.
 
Rui Luís challenged these institutions to implement functional units that eliminate stigma and constraints related to gender, where "men and women may live together as if they were in society."
 
The Regional Secretary revealed that the Government intends to strengthen cooperation with non-profit social institutions, but without replacing them in good practices of sustainability, entrepreneurship and complementary services.
 
"We propose a partnership based on transparency and a result-oriented culture of clinical governance and health that will be mainly focused on people, while promoting their rehabilitation and integration into the community," said the government official.
 
For Rui Luís, "the paths of mental health" should be followed by the public, private and social sectors, within their specific scope, but always privileging the confluence of efforts towards the same direction.
 
Despite the lack of scientific foundations on local and economic constraints, the Regional Secretary considered that the current situation in the Azores is a "cause for concern" regarding certain factors associated with it, such as alcoholism, depression and suicide as well as "the challenge of ageing."