The Regional Secretary for Health stated that his department is preparing, together with social partners, a legal document to define the Mental Health Care Integrated Network.

According to Luís Cabral, this Network aims to "follow up patients with the accuracy and quality that their condition requires, being in line with the latest scientific evidence in this area."

Luís Cabral took part in the training course that is being attended by those who will make up the Mobile Mental Health Care Teams. This project aims to enhance networking, based on the knowledge and practice of multidisciplinary teams, where "community mental health is founded and built. According to him, these teams will be the basis of the Mental Health Care Integrated Network.

"The introduction of a specific area of intervention for the promotion of mental health in the Regional Health Plan has met the essential need to promote the integration of mental health care in the regional health system, both in terms of primary and hospital care and continued care, in order to facilitate the access to care and reduce institutionalisation," said the government official.

In this regard, the Regional Secretary mentioned the implementation of a pilot project for the creation of Mobile Home Care Teams in the area of Mental Health. After being implemented on São Miguel, it will be expanded to the remaining islands. The project is intended to "reduce the impact of mental disorders in the Region, either through the promotion of mental health with the provision of community psychiatric care or through the relief of specialised services in the area."

Luís Cabral also pointed out the fact that it provides many patients with the possibility of being "followed-up in their family environment," with the support home care teams. This represents a "great effort in the provision of primary health care that needs the appropriate technical and scientific support."

The Regional Secretary for Health also pointed out that this measure will "allows us to improve, through the provision of community-based care, the quality of life of patients as well as of their families. Moreover, it will relieve specialised services in the follow-up of severe cases of mental illness, which will significantly reduce the institutionalisation of patients and minimise costs in mental and psychiatric health."

"These changes must be made in accordance with criteria of quality and continuity in order to prevent instability in daily lives of these patients," said the Regional Secretary for Health.