Mental Health in Guatemala: A cry for help that we cannot ignore.

Guatemala City, 9 October 2023 - As we commemorate World Mental Health Day, UNICEF Guatemala launches a forceful call to attention about the alarming situation experienced by young people, adolescents and children in the country. 

According to figures from the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, from January to July 2023, 34,178 Guatemalans were diagnosed with a mental and behavioural disorder. Of them, almost 40% are people under 19 years of age. Adolescents and young people aged 15 -19 reported the highest incidence rates, 8%. The most frequent disorders suffered by the Guatemalan population are depression, anxiety and mental disorders due to the use of psychoactive substances. Even more worrying is the fact that 57% of suicides reported during 2022 involved adolescents and young people between the ages of 11 and 30. 

"Guatemalan children and adolescents need our support and immediate attention. It is essential to ensure a safe and loving environment for them in their homes and communities, as well as access to quality mental health services and psychosocial care," says Manuel Rodríguez Pumarol, UNICEF Representative in Guatemala. 

Factors such as genetics, personal experiences, upbringing, violence, abuse and discrimination play a crucial role in the mental health of young people. Globally, 50 per cent of mental disorders begin before the age of 14 and 75 per cent before the age of 24. In a recent UNICEF U-Report survey of 1,500 young people in Guatemala, 38 per cent said they had experienced anxiety, 22 per cent depression, and a worrying 41 per cent said they had not sought help.  

To address this situation, UNICEF and the Guatemalan Government have prioritized youth mental health through the “Protocol for the Prevention of Suicidal Behaviour in Children and Adolescents.” Ensuring optimal mental health for everyone, however, requires a collective effort. The public and private sector are urged to: 

• Invest in mental health focusing on prevention for children and adolescents. 
• Expand and decentralize mental health services, making them accessible to all. 

• Promote positive parenting that supports the mental health of parents and caregivers. 

• Incorporate mental health into the educational curriculum at all levels. 

• Fight the stigma surrounding mental disorders, promoting open dialogue. 

• Create child protection services to provide a therapeutic approach to child victims of violence. 

Rodríguez Pumarol concluded, "Mental health influences our emotions, decisions and relationships. As a society we must invest in it, prioritizing our youth and ensuring their well-being. Taking care of mental health is everyone's responsibility."