Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic poses significant risks to the vulnerable patient population supported by community mental health (CMH) teams in South Australia. This paper describes a plan developed to understand and mitigate these risks. Methods: Public health and psychiatric literature was reviewed and clinicians in CMH teams and infectious disease were consulted. Key risks posed by COVID-19 to CMH patients were identified and mitigation plans were prepared. Results: A public health response plan for CMH teams was developed to support vulnerable individuals and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This plan will be reviewed regularly to respond to changes in public health recommendations, research findings and feedback from patients and clinicians. Conclusions: The strategic response plan developed to address risks to vulnerable patients from COVID-19 can assist other CMH services in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, public health, pandemic, mental health, Schizophrenia, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19 pandemic, risk, Infectious disease, Health, Patient, Community, recommendations, Support, Psychiatric, Clinicians, clinician, individual, South, patient population, Public, mitigate, supported, changes in, respond, assist, research finding, vulnerable patient, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19 pandemic, Community, Supporting,