The Conversation took place at the Estación Belgrano Convention Center, and had a panel diverse in specialties and opinions that included Ximena García, lawyer and provincial deputy, Larisa Carrera, vice-rector of the UNL and teacher-researcher; Lucía Poletti, occupational therapist and director of the “Rumbos” Community Integration Center; Pablo Bertero, psychiatrist on the team at the Iturraspe General Oncology Hospital; Juliana Czernik, occupational therapist and executive director of problematic drug use approaches at the Undersecretariat of Health of the Municipality of Santa Fe.
When consulted, provincial legislator Ximena García expressed her satisfaction with the holding of this event: “Mental health must stop being a taboo. These spaces are necessary to listen to all voices and learn about the debates that are in force regarding its implementation. the outstanding debts, and our possible contributions”.
During his speech, García highlighted the importance of addressing mental health from a comprehensive perspective, as established by the National Mental Health Law No. 26,657, enacted in 2010. “Mental health affects all age groups and social sectors, and more and more we manage to overcome the barrier of prejudice to speak openly about this issue,” said the representative.
García also recalled that the province of Santa Fe was a pioneer in having a specific mental health law in 1991 (Prov. Law 10,772), and stressed the need to carry out precise diagnoses that justify and guide the need or not, to review the regulations. current, the budgets allocated, and their implementation in the current socioeconomic context.
The National Mental Health Law No. 26,657 represents a fundamental milestone in deasanomalyization and the transition towards a Human Rights approach in the treatment of mental health. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), one in seven young people between the ages of 10 and 19 suffers from a mental disorder, and in Argentina, one in three adults has mental health problems from the age of 20. Depression, anxiety and behavioral disorders are the main causes of disability among adolescents.
The event concluded with an enriching exchange of ideas between the participants, who agreed that the debate must continue, but that it is urgent and necessary to strengthen community-based mental health services, as well as intersectoral and interdisciplinary approaches to improve even further. mental health care in the province.
