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This page is an AI-assisted Turkish summary of the study presented at the 26th World Congress of Psychiatry. The study belongs to the presenting authors; please refer to the original source when citing it.

Mental health stigma in Mexico: historical roots, current responses, and emerging directions

Mental health stigma in mexico: historical roots, contemporary responses, and emerging directions

Although mental health services are widely available in Mexico, stigma and fear continue to limit their use.

The aim is to describe the sociocultural barriers to accessing mental health care in Mexico, particularly the roles of stigma, historical perceptions of psychiatric institutions, and traditional beliefs, as well as the strategies implemented to improve access to psychiatric services and raise public awareness. The method consisted of a descriptive overview focusing on the historical evolution of psychiatric care in Mexico, cultural factors influencing help-seeking behavior, and public health initiatives developed to reduce stigma and improve mental health literacy, with particular emphasis on institutional reforms and community-based educational initiatives. The findings indicate that mental health stigma remains a major barrier to timely psychiatric care. Persistent beliefs equating psychiatric treatment with severe mental illness, together with historical fears surrounding psychiatric hospitals, deter people from seeking professional help, while traditional gender roles and religious influences may further delay access to specialized services. Consequently, many patients reach public psychiatric institutions only after their conditions have progressed substantially. An important milestone in the modernization of psychiatric care was the restructuring of La Castañeda, the country's principal psychiatric institution, in the 1970s, and the shift from a model of exclusion and confinement toward rehabilitation and community reintegration. Over time, this approach influenced psychiatric services nationwide. In parallel, psychoeducation, community engagement, school-based programs, public information campaigns, and intergenerational outreach efforts were implemented. In conclusion, early intervention, prevention, psychoeducation, and collaboration between health care professionals and communities are considered essential to improving access to care and reducing stigma.

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