in-cyprus 31 March 2020 - Josephine Koumettou
The Deputy Ministry for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy and Okypy’s Mental Health Services announced on Monday the launch of a remote psychological care service for Covid-19 patients, their loved ones, people in self-isolation as well as the general public.
The telephone service will be staffed by clinical psychologists and will prioritise the needs of patients found positive to Covid-19 who have a history of mental illness with the following aims:
-To monitor their mental situation
-To prevent and manage potential relapses and
-To offer support and guidance in other matters that may arise.
Where the situation calls for an intervention by a psychiatrist or a child psychiatrist the necessary arrangements will be made, the announcement added.
The remote mental care service will also cover the psychological needs of relatives of patients with Covid-19 as well as other vulnerable people from the general population.
The service will be available by appointment and will be conducted remotely by audiovisual means. It will be open seven days a week, 12 hours a day from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm.
Initial communication to submit a request to use the service and make an appointment should be conducted by telephone.
For relatives, people in self-isolation and the general public, initial communication to make an appointment should be sought during these hours 7 days a week: 9 am – 10 am and 1 pm – 2 pm on the numbers 99 92 84 05 and 99 92 84 06.
For Covid-19 patients in hospitals there will be access via two helplines provided to them directly by medical professionals.
