Spanish
Santo Domingo. – Following the death of at least 5 minors at the hands of their parents or guardians in the last two weeks, several legislators stated that these cases denote the serious mental health crisis that the Dominican Republic is experiencing.
Regarding this, the deputy of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), Aníbal Díaz highlighted that since the Covid-19 pandemic, out of every 100 people, at least 30 suffer from a mental health situation, and of those 30, there is no evidence or diagnosis, and he considered that the system is turning its back on the problem.
"The system is against mental health. We are going to the 4th Mental Health Congress and we are requesting support for the important part of the law that refers to the modification of the coverage catalog so that psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health coaches have the same level of coverage as other pathologies," said Diaz.
The legislator who will reintroduce in this legislature a bill to guarantee access to services, promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation in mental health, pointed out that there are a large number of health centers that do not have a specialized care unit for this condition, in addition to the fact that barely 0.3% of the investment in health is invested in mental health.
He also advocated for the creation of an institute to coordinate all areas of mental health to give it greater visibility.
From his side, the deputy for San Pedro de Macorís, Miguel Arredondo, points out that the mental health problem has become complicated and greater efforts are needed to stop the harm.
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"The root is in prevention, I think there are people who start with those difficulties and little by little they grow until the situation becomes complicated, the country has grown and health really demands more budget, therefore, this has to call for reflection and that we can resolve once and for all," indicated Arredondo. According to Representative Jorge Manuel Zorrilla, the Dominican Republic is still very behind on this issue and, accordingly, has also introduced a project that instructs President Luis Abinader to build a large center to treat mental health disorders. "It's a disease that no one would want to have, that knocks on the door of anyone regardless of their social status and we must start creating a culture of attending a psychiatrist, of seeking psychological help," said Zorrilla. Finally, the deputy of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Charlie Mariotti Paz, lamented in the face of situations like the recent cases, the failure in the new Penal Code regarding the most severe penalties for violence against children and adolescents.
