The Minister of Health, Dr. Abel Salinas Rivas, announced the strengthening of the National Mental Health Plan through a more comprehensive and community-based approach.
“Mental health is an issue that affects Peruvian society, and the Ministry of Health's response is centered on the development of what we call Community Mental Health Centers. The goal is to address problems that are not only related to psychiatric conditions but also to issues such as violence in all its forms and family dysfunction, among others. The Ministry's National Mental Health Plan is based on a community approach that involves everyone, from specialists to the community itself,” he stated.
In this regard, he reaffirmed that 100 community mental health centers are expected to be implemented across the country this year. “Mental health begins at home, and we must greatly strengthen the concept of family. Mental health conditions are not only about the individual but also about their immediate environment, especially the family, and then society as a whole. I believe we are all part of the problem, and therefore we must all be part of the solution,” he added.
There are currently 31 Community Mental Health Centers operating throughout the country. They are located in the regions of Lima (10), Arequipa (6), Moquegua (2), La Libertad (5), Piura (3), Ayacucho (2), Huancavelica (1), Lambayeque (1), and the Constitutional Province of Callao (1).
These specialized outpatient health facilities provide services for people living with severe mental health conditions and/or psychosocial challenges, including health promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration.
The Minister of Health also welcomed the proposal made by the Minister of Women and Vulnerable Populations, Ana María Choquehuanca, who suggested hiring a psychologist in every school across the country to help identify cases of child abuse at an early stage.
“It is a good initiative, but we must evaluate how feasible it is, given the number of psychology professionals that would be required. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Health's position is very clear: mental health must be addressed through a comprehensive approach. This means strengthening Community Mental Health Centers, where specialists in psychiatry and psychology work together with the community and even local governments,” he concluded.
Source: Ministerio de Salud
