Indicators that a person needs psychiatric care

Mental health is important, and the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) warns about factors that undermine it. Here are the details:

The IMSS has a specialized triage system for psychiatric emergencies that serves the population with rights to determine the type of treatment they need in less than 30 minutes and prevent major health risks .

Dr. Oscar Bernardo Segura Santos, a psychiatrist assigned to the outpatient service of the regional psychiatric hospital "Doctor Hector H. Tovar Acosa" of the IMSS, said that A person who was previously sociable and suddenly becomes isolated, decreases their food intake, does not like to express what they think or threatens their physical integrity or that of others, could be suffering from a psychiatric emergency and needs to receive medical attention as soon as possible. .

"Emergencies aren't something that should wait outside of a clinical setting, a hospital setting, because if we give the symptom a chance to worsen, it can be catastrophic. This is definitely immediate," he indicated.

The specialist stressed that Emergencies require evaluation to determine whether they are real or perceived and have essential characteristics, such as altering the person's functionality, putting their physical or emotional safety at risk, or that of the people around them. .

He explained that triage in psychiatry is a clinical tool that allows for categorizing and determining the type of care. "We are dividing it into five levels, with various characteristics: duration of care and clinical characteristics. The waiting times for the different phases take into account the time at which care will be provided and will depend on the severity of the symptoms present at that time."

Segura Santos said that among the most frequent pathologies that reach the Emergency Department of the “Doctor Héctor H. Tovar Acosta” Psychiatric Hospital are those that have emotional symptoms, such as anxiety and depression .

"The advice is to go straight to the Emergency Department. It's better if they tell me, 'It's not a real emergency, I'll refer you to your Family Medicine Unit or send you to the Outpatient Clinic so they can prescribe treatment,' and that's where the urgency ends. And if it is a real emergency, I don't give myself the leeway to take risks by wasting time," he said.

This IMSS psychiatric hospital, located in the Tlalpan district of Mexico City, offers a Continuous Admissions service that accepts patients referred from the Second Level who have already undergone a prior evaluation. However, both beneficiaries and the general public can also request immediate care.

“Ultimately, anyone who needs it can go to the Emergency Department. If they are a beneficiary, the entire internal administrative process is followed, they are categorized according to triage, and care is provided, either in the Emergency Department or by referral to the outpatient clinic of their corresponding General Hospital or Family Medicine Unit. If the patient doesn't have access to the service, there is a referral mechanism, which refers them to the appropriate unit depending on the patient's urgency, even if they are not a beneficiary,” Segura Santos commented.

The hospital has in-hospital treatment in which, depending on the pathology that is present, Patients are received for stays of between 15 and 21 days to rehabilitate them and return to their family, social, school or work activities. .

The specialist emphasized the importance of establishing communication within the family, social, and work environment to prevent symptoms from worsening in the event of a psychiatric emergency.

“The family must always be aware of behavioral changes and desires within the family environment. We must be very vigilant. This must be replicated in the workplace. As colleagues, we must be vigilant about socializing, communicating, working as a team, following a line of command, and how to follow the task at hand. We must not get stressed or frustrated when a situation doesn't go as planned or even warrants disciplinary action,” he said.

IMSS psychiatric triage consists of five levels of care: Level 1 for life-threatening situations such as absence of pulse, difficulty breathing, chest pain, violent behavior, and/or delusions; Level 2 for behaviors that endanger oneself or others, such as suicidal thoughts or self-mutilation; Level 3 for psychiatric symptoms that have worsened in the previous 72 hours; Level 4 for minor emergencies; and Level 5 when it is determined that there is no emergency .

Social Security promotes mental health care and risk prevention through programs such as PrevenIMSS+ and Safe and Healthy Work Environments (ELSSA). It also offers Mental Health Telephone Medical Guidance at 800-2222-668, option 4, where psychologists and psychiatrists provide care and advice.

With information from the IMSS

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