Psychological support unit design and implementation during COVID-19 pandemic: Case of Mongi Slim Hospital, Tunisia

Abstract

General lockdown was declared in Tunisia in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It had a negative psychological and social impact on the Tunisian population and health professionals. Mental healthcare was crucial during this period but health services access was difficult because of movement restrictions. Mongi Slim Hospital contains three special COVID-19 units and there was an urgent need for a psychological intervention with increasing demands at the mental health department in this hospital. A psychological support unit (PSU) was implemented with a free helpline for both patients, families and hospital staff. The objective of this paper was to describe the design, implementation and activities of this unit. This PSU had preventive and management activities for both patients and health professionals. Recommendations drawn from this experience are to promote mental health care and to encourage implementation of such units in order to respond to the local need of patients and staff. This pilot experience should be generalized to other hospitals in Tunisia and worldwide.