UNICEF and the Ministry of Health launch “EN MI MENTE,” an initiative to strengthen adolescent mental health in Guatemala

Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, 10 October 2025. – On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) launched the initiative “EN MI MENTE” (In My Mind), an innovative space that brings mental health closer to adolescents through accessible, inclusive, and culturally relevant resources aimed at promoting emotional well-being and fostering safe and empathetic environments.

In Guatemala, mental health remains an urgent challenge. According to the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, in 2022, 203 cases of suicide were reported among adolescents aged 11 to 19, underscoring the need to strengthen preventive and community-based mental health care.

Similarly, a 2023 U-Report Guatemala online survey of 1,500 young people revealed that 38% had experienced some form of anxiety and 22% depression, while 44% said they had not sought professional help—whether due to lack of information, stigma, or limited access to services.

“Talking about mental health should not be a taboo. With EN MI MENTE, we want every adolescent to know that their emotions matter, that they can ask for help and find it in their own language,” said Vincenzo Placco, UNICEF Representative a.i. in Guatemala. “Emotional well-being is the foundation of a healthy, resilient youth capable of building a better future for the country,” he added.

The initiative is implemented within the Adolescent-Friendly Spaces model of the MSPAS, where young people receive information, psychosocial support, and participate in activities that strengthen their physical and emotional well-being.

A key component of EN MI MENTE is the educational podcast series “A Healthy Mind Matters,” developed by UNICEF in partnership with Spotify. The series addresses topics such as emotional regulation, self-care, healthy relationships, and stress management. Its first season is available in Spanish, Q’eqchí, and Poqomchí, expanding access to Indigenous communities facing linguistic and geographic barriers.

Episodes are also broadcast through local community radios and at Adolescent-Friendly Spaces, ensuring broader territorial reach.

EN MI MENTE also includes a facilitation guide and an activity logbook for health promoters and staff to work on mental health topics with adolescents using a practical, participatory approach adapted to local contexts.

Through the U-Report Guatemala chatbot, adolescents can access free information—via WhatsApp, Messenger, or Instagram—on stress management, self-care, and positive relationships.

So far, EN MI MENTE has benefited more than 100 adolescents in Alta Verapaz through emotional well-being sessions, trained 80 health workers in adolescent mental health, and established partnerships with six community radios that broadcast content in Mayan languages.

This initiative is part of the joint efforts of UNICEF and MSPAS to strengthen comprehensive mental health care within public health services and to promote an environment where every child and adolescent can grow up with emotional well-being.

EN MI MENTE seeks to transform the perception of mental health in Guatemala, promoting a culture of emotional care, empathy, and solidarity—especially among young people facing greater challenges in accessing timely psychological support.

To access the initiative, adolescents can:
🎧 Listen to the podcast on UNICEF Guatemala’s Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/bp4fjr9e
💬 Send the word SALUDMENTAL to WhatsApp 3288-0739
📡 Tune in to partner community radios in Alta Verapaz: Stereo Universal, Stereo Verde, Stereo 92.7, Radio Agua Viva, Radio Buenas Nuevas, and Unión Radio.