In order to strengthen mental health care to guarantee the provision of a safe and humanized service to Venezuelan and Colombian nationals in Cúcuta, capital of the department of Norte de Santander, IOM delivered hospital furniture and biomedical, audiovisual and computer equipment for the new Mental Health Unit of the Empresa Social del Estado (ESE) Rudesindo Soto Mental Hospital.

This delivery was financially supported by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) of the U.S. Department of State and with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Since December 2021, the IOM has been accompanying the Rudesindo Soto Hospital through institutional strengthening actions that are materialized with the provision of furniture, biomedical, audiovisual and computer equipment. It also provides training on the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Strategy (SMAPS), humanized treatment and emotional discharge workshops for human talent.

In addition, it supported with protection elements for health personnel, and established an alliance with the Hospital for the care of migrant and refugee population in clinical psychology, psychiatry, neurology and comprehensive rehabilitation for the treatment and prevention of psychoactive substance use (PAS). The above, within the framework of the health response to the migratory context and the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the handover ceremony, Ana Durán-Salvatierra, IOM Chief of Mission, emphasized that this action "seeks to protect psychosocial well-being and strengthen the social fabric, through the implementation of actions that guarantee basic needs, social and community support, targeted support, and specialized care".

On his part, the manager of the Rudesindo Soto Hospital, Dr. Luis Emilio Rincón Vera, assured that thanks to this strengthening, access to mental health can be improved and various services can be offered to the Venezuelan refugee and migrant population, Colombian returnees and host communities. "This is an open-door hospital where we have eliminated barriers and work 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he said.

Federico* is a Venezuelan national and has been living with his mother in Cúcuta for four years. Thanks to the agreement between the IOM and the Rudesindo Soto Hospital, he received care in psychology, psychiatry and social work. "The service has been very good and I am very grateful to all those who have accompanied me," he said.

Since 2020, thanks to the financial support of PRM, the IOM has been developing the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Strategy (SMAPS) in Norte de Santander. Within the framework of this strategy and in coordination with local authorities, the hospital network and the community, 5,044 Venezuelan nationals have received basic psychology services, 714 people have received psychosocial support, and 7,072 people have participated in community strengthening processes with an MHPSS approach.

The SMAPS strategy is led by the IOM in 13 Colombian departments and has benefited close to 30,000 people in the last two years.

At the community level, the MHPss strategy has been developed with the support of leaders of the Community Health Network "Weaving Communities in Movement" in Cúcuta, Pamplona and Tibú, who have received training in public health surveillance, as well as in the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) and psychological first aid.

In addition, workshops were held with the Network to strengthen the community on topics such as self-care in times of COVID-19, healthy coexistence, management of emotions, positive parenting, prevention of xenophobia, prevention of violence, and access to emotional support lines. Likewise, emotional care and humanization of services workshops have been held for the personnel of local hospitals, territorial entities and NGOs.

In this context, the IOM Chief of Mission stated that "the communities have been the driving force behind their own care and change, and are called upon to be co-participants in improving individual and collective well-being. The best protective factors for mental health can be found within the community," she added.

Through this strengthening provided by the IOM, attention and coverage is given to the refugee and migrant population of Norte de Santander so that they can receive specialized hospital care in mental health.

*Name changed to preserve identity.