Let’s continue moving forward! During August, four Community Mental Health Centers were inaugurated in the Peruvian Amazon region,in Bagua, Satipo, Chanchamayo, and Ucayali.
The Bagua Community Mental Health Center, located in the Amazonas region, was officially inaugurated on August 4 by María del Carmen Calle, Vice Minister of Public Health of the Ministry of Health (MINSA). This facility will benefit approximately 100,000 residents and, according to Yuri Cutipé, Director of Mental Health at MINSA, will provide care for depression, alcohol-related problems, violence, and other psychosocial conditions affecting the population.
Additionally, two Community Mental Health Centers were opened in the central jungle of the Junín region, in the provinces of Satipo and Chanchamayo. These establishments aim to provide timely psychological support to vulnerable populations in the area and are expected to serve approximately 10,000 people annually.
Finally, on August 9, Minister of Health Silvia Pessah, together with the President of Peru, Martín Vizcarra, inaugurated the first Community Mental Health Center in the Ucayali region, located in the district of Manantay, province of Coronel Portillo.
“We want to implement these centers throughout every region of the country. They are safe spaces for support and reflection, where comprehensive care is provided to all people experiencing family difficulties, depression, alcohol-related problems, substance use, or other situations that require specialized support,” stated the Minister.
Los servicios que brindan estos centros son de tipo ambulatorio, sin internamiento, e incluyen además la visita a los domicilios de las personas que son atendidas; el foco está en la reinserción socialThe services provided by these centers are outpatient-based, without hospitalization, and also include home visits for individuals receiving care; their main focus is social reintegration. Each Community Mental Health Center has a multidisciplinary team made up of various mental health professionals who provide specialized services for children and adolescents, adults, and older adults, as well as care for addictions and community participation initiatives.
The government has announced that by the end of this year there will be 72 Community Mental Health Centers nationwide, and the goal is to reach 280 of these facilities by 2021. Government authorities reaffirm their commitment to continuing to work toward guaranteeing mental health care for more Peruvians, with the support of local authorities and organized communities.
#EveryoneForMentalHealth
