The Post-Licentiate Specialisation Course in Mental Health and
Psychiatric Nursing began on the 13th of March at the Nursing School
of Coimbra. There is a lack of professionals in this area in relation to the
needs identified in our country.
According to Professora Aida Mendes, coordinator of this new course,
although the mental health and psychiatric problems represent a significant
dimension, this “area has been constantly undervalued in health plans”, either
regarding the human resources, or regarding the financial resources available.”
The General Directorate of Health estimates a prevalence of 30% of
psychic disturbances in
Professora Aida Mendes states that the funds directed to this area
correspond to a small part of the budgets for Health in the different
countries. This way, she points out that mental health represents 13% of the
total disease but only 2% of the total costs in Health.
The data of the World Health Organisation (WHO) are clear: one in five
people (20% of the population), throughout their lives, will at least one time
have to resort to specialised mental health services”, explains Professora Aida
Mendes.
The WHO also estimates that, in
The Post-Licentiate Specialisation Course in Mental Health and
Psychiatric Nursing has the duration of three semesters, but it may change to
four semesters, since the ESEnfC has requested the Ministry of Science,
Technology and Higher Education to change the course to a master’s degree
course.
