Search

Introduction The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is affecting numerous dimensions of our society since the beginning of the outbreak. A significant increase in emotional distress was expected in the general population, particularly among the high-risk groups such as the oldest, chronic patients, healthcare professionals, and psychopathology vulnerable people. There was an urgent need to adapt and create solutions to promote mental health. Given the recommendations to minimize face-to-face interactions, several helplines were widely developed. Objectives In this work, we aim to reflect on the experience of a university helpline, that integrated efforts with the regional mental health care services. Methods A University helpline was created to give support to the regional community outside academia. The team was created on an online teamwork platform, to communicate through the chat, carry videoconference meetings, and store useful files. A Manchester screening decision tree was adopted, to define a set of guidelines to provide support to the callers, based mainly on the guidelines defined by the Order of Portuguese Psychologists. Liaison with the mental health care services, including other specific helplines, was established. Results Notwithstanding all the efforts, the number of received calls was scarce, similarly to helplines created by other national universities and by other entities. Conclusions A new approach to psychological intervention in crisis is needed, maintaining integrated efforts, and taking advantage of the opportunity to foster personalized mental health care in the digital era. It is important to continuously assess the value of integrated efforts in patient care and to the healthcare system.

A valid organization-wide needs assessment is a necessary precursor to successful competency development. This paper summarizes a framework for an effective needs assessment for competency-based development, and introduces an efficient web-based tool to manage the process. The web-based competency assessment system integrates survey design and on-line data collection with gap analysis techniques. A prototyping evaluation is conducted to assess the acceptability of the proposed framework. The evaluation of a prototype system by a group of Taiwan's experienced human resource managers showed a general acceptance and readiness in adopting efficiency-enhancing technologies to develop organizational competencies.