Ángeles Cruz Martínez
La Jornada Newspaper
Wednesday, October 9, 2024, p. 13
Half of the adults who have a mental disorder, such as depression or anxiety, among others, developed it during childhood or adolescence without receiving diagnosis or treatment, while 30 percent of patients who are in general hospitals for another condition require mental health services, but they do not receive them because there are none or because of the stigma that prevails in society, including among health personnel.
María Elena Medina Mora, director of the Faculty of Psychology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), explained that around 20 million Mexicans live with some mental disorder, often associated with a history of violence, abandonment and conditions of poverty.
The specialist participated yesterday in a conference organized by the Lundbeck laboratory on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, which is commemorated on October 10.
He commented on the results of various investigations that have revealed, among other data, that the age of 15 is the age of greatest risk for the development of disorders and drug use.
It is possible to prevent these problems and, where appropriate, identify them in a timely manner. Medina Mora highlighted that in addition to stigma and discrimination, those affected very often do not know how to ask for help. For this reason, he proposed, in schools, as part of teaching life skills, students should be guided on this topic.
Other findings have to do with risk factors associated with the development of mental disorders. The individuals most likely to present them are those who in childhood were victims or witnesses of violence, abandonment, rape and poverty.
Regarding this last circumstance, the specialist highlighted that the risk increases when people live in undeveloped areas or where drugs are sold on the street. For this reason, he said, in controlling illnesses, access to health services and medications is very important, but also the patients’ environment.
Regarding health services, he mentioned that reengineering is required so that first-contact doctors have the ability to identify those affected and that specialized areas exist in hospitals, as there are for other diseases.
Serious cases should continue to be treated in psychiatric institutes and hospitals, he pointed out.
