The Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the General Directorate of Assistance Programs, has increased the assistance resources in Mental Health during the coronavirus pandemic, both those intended for the pediatric population, through the Care devices Early, as in the adult population. In fact, this year it will launch two units for mental health care for children and adolescents –one in Gran Canaria and the other in Tenerife–. These actions are contemplated in the Canary Islands Mental Health Plan (2019-23).
The priority objectives are to strengthen the Community Care model, care for children and adolescents, and care for severe mental illness, as well as reinforcing those units that already have complete teams, in order to respond to the demand for care and the development of actions contained in the Program Prevention of Suicidal Behavior in the Canary Islands, which was presented in 2021.
In this sense, in 2022, among other initiatives, both in Tenerife and Gran Canaria, specific child and adolescent Mental Health units and Home Care teams will be launched for this population in both health areas. Day Hospital services will also be created in both territories.
In this way, all the islands will have Early Care services for the pediatric population this year, after the launch in 2021 of those of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma and Fuerteventura. Gran Canaria and Tenerife will have the second units before the end of 2022.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the Canary Islands Health Service has prioritized attention to Mental Health, so that during this period actions have been carried out on all the islands that have involved a budgetary effort of more than 1, 4 million euros with the incorporation of 80 new professionals assigned to the Mental Health area.
