María Dolores D. Braquehais, M.D., Ph.D. 

The 25th World Congress of Psychiatry was held in Prague, Czech Republic, on October 5–8, 2025. Our symposium, titled “Mental health support for healthcare workers: practical solutions and expert insights,” was included as part of the Congress program. The session was co-chaired by Dr. Neil Greenberg (United Kingdom) and me, and featured the following presentations:

• Galatea integral care program >25 years of a specialized mental health service for health professionals. Presenter: María Dolores D. Braquehais (Spain)
• Mental health challenges of aid workers: reflections on lived experience as a field worker. Presenter: Carla Kamitsuji (Brazil)
• Timely care for carers: clinical and health economics implications of mental of mental health services for healthcare workers. Presenter: Muzaffer Kaser (United Kingdom)

Below is the symposium abstract:

The mental health of healthcare workers is a crucial matter for psychiatry, particularly in the current climate of workforce shortages and the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on health systems. This symposium addressed these challenges by presenting innovative approaches and sharing lived experiences from various perspectives of an expert global line-up. Dr. Dolores Braquehais presented the Galatea Integral Care Program for Health Professionals (1998-2024), a free, confidential program offering specialized mental health treatment to healthcare professionals in Catalonia, highlighting its success and impact. Dr. Carla Kamitsuji illuminated the unique mental health challenges faced by humanitarian aid workers, drawing from her experience with Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and emphasize the importance of tailored support. Finally, Dr. Muzaffer Kaser shared experiences from a pioneering staff clinic from Cambridge, UK that has significantly improved mental health outcomes for healthcare workers, discussing the results from a health economics study highlighting benefits of investing in staff-specific mental health clinics. The symposium was chaired by Prof Greenberg, a leading academic in the field of occupational mental health with extensive experience in developing and implementing mental health research into frontline workers. Prof Greenberg’s expertise and leadership ensured a comprehensive and impactful discussion. The symposium aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers and offer practical insights and innovative solutions.