Psychologist warns of mental health crisis in Dominican mothers

SANTO DOMINGO.– Clinical psychologist Angélica García issued a serious warning about the deterioration of mental health in many Dominican mothers, pointing out that the country is facing a critical situation that could continue to claim lives if urgent measures are not taken. “We have mothers who are single-handedly taking on the emotional and economic burden of the home. Added to that are untreated traumas, social inequality, and lack of access to psychological services. All of that can trigger violent behaviors, even against their own children,” said the specialist during her participation in the report “Mental health in mothers”, broadcast by the program Bajo El Foco of the De Último Minuto platform. García explained that many of the recent cases of maternal violence in the Dominican Republic —including infanticides and serious assaults— have as a background disorders such as psychosis, which distorts the perception of reality and can lead to extreme reactions if not diagnosed and treated in time. "We cannot normalize emotional imbalance. If I am feeling overwhelmed, with unprovoked anger or behaviors out of the ordinary, that is an alert. It's not about being a 'strong mother', but about seeking help before it's too late," she warned. The expert insisted that the country needs a structural approach to face this crisis: "The first thing is to create environments where people receive emotional education from an early age. That emotional management programs are implemented in schools. Then, guarantee access to psychologists, clinics and community services. And beyond that, establish public policies that facilitate all that and generate campaigns that create awareness about mental health and its social impact." García also pointed out that the stage of pregnancy and postpartum is especially vulnerable. It is estimated that between 15% and 25% of Dominican women present symptoms of anxiety, depression, or serious emotional imbalances during that period. However, many mothers remain silent for fear of being stigmatized or misinterpreted by their environment. "The burden of having a child is not just physical. It's emotional and economic. If the father is absent and there are no support networks, everything falls on one person. And that pressure, when it finds no outlet, can explode," she pointed out. Finally, he criticized that while in the country massive campaigns are carried out on commercial or political issues, mental health is ignored as a national priority: "Here, campaigns are run on less urgent issues, but there's no talk about this, which is literally taking our lives. We need to talk more about violence, mental health, and prevention." The psychologist's statements add to the call from various sectors demanding greater public investment in mental health, psychological support in vulnerable communities, and a cultural transformation that allows for the identification and treatment of these cases before they become tragedies.