PSYCHIATRY AND MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Mission

Provision of Health Care specialised in psychiatry and mental health for adults, children and young people, from the respective geo-demographic area, improving the quality of life of the patients, promoting the full social integration of individuals with mental health problems, while ensuring the professional development of its employees, as well as research projects and pre- and post-graduate training.

Values

In fulfilling its mission, the Service takes on the following values:

• Health and quality of life of patients;
• Code of ethics and standards of conduct;
• Quality and innovation;
• Humanism and enhancement of human potential;
• Commitment, responsibility and multidisciplinary view regarding treatment;
• Respect for the spiritual dimension of the human being.

Brief History of the Department

The Service of Psychiatry and Mental Health inserted in Centro Hospitalar Cova da Beira, E.P.E. had its origin in the old Mental Health Centre of Covilhã and was based on the publication of ordinance no..524 / 71 of September 27, covering 11 municipalities, thus becoming the only psychiatric treatment facility in Beira Interior.
From 1971 to 1992 the Mental Health Centre of Covilhã benefitted significantly with the extension of valences through the creation of new services from Hospitalisation, male and female, Outpatient Service with home visits for assessing patients, socio-family support and distribution of antipsychotics. The entry into force of Decree-Law 127/92 of July 3 gave way to the restructuring of the Mental Health Services, which are integrated into General Hospitals and so, in August of the same year, the Mental Health Centre of Covilhã was made extinct, ordinance no.752/92, becoming the Department of Mental Health of Covilhã, integrated into the then existing Hospital of the District of Covilhã.
The Department offers a child psychiatry service since 2002.
With the creation of the Cova da Beira Hospital Centre in 2000, and the utilisation of new facilities the Department became physically disintegrated since it had remained in its former premises until September 24, 2007. That was the date when the Psychiatry and Mental Health Department settled into the modern facilities adjacent to the Centro Hospital Centre, enabling even higher standards of quality and complying with the most recent guidelines in terms of Mental Health.
It was constituted as a Department consisting of two Services: Adult Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry, of reference in the Region with regards to the level of care, pre- and post-graduate training and research in psychiatry and mental health. In close collaboration with the University of Beira Interior, namely with the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Department of Psychology, as well as with Nursing Colleges at pre- and post-graduate training level and other institutions (Schools of Social Services, etc.).

Catchment Area

Municipalities of Covilhã, Fundão, Belmonte and Penamacor.

Valences of the Adult Psychiatric Service

• Inpatient (22 beds)
• Outpatient / Psychiatry and Psychology
• Day Hospital Clinic
• Urgent home visits
• Performed in the general emergency service in the area of prevention

Department Director
Dr. Vitor Oliveira

Contacts
Phone: (+351) 275 330000 (ext. 17040)
Fax: (+351) 275 330 109
E-mail: psiquiatria@chcbeira.min-saude.pt