Argentina deputies propose National Mental Health Emergency

A group of deputies in Argentina has introduced a bill to declare a “National Mental Health Emergency” for a period of two years. The proposal aims to strengthen the public healthcare system through several urgent measures, including the expansion and reinforcement of assistance facilities nationwide.

Key provisions of the bill include the reinstatement of dismissed staff from the Hospital Laura Bonaparte and the strengthening of Interdisciplinary Residencies in Mental Health and Addictions (RISAM). The initiative also seeks to immediately restore the Remediar Program’s mental health component, increase the number of operators for free mental health telephone lines, and ensure equitable distribution of specialized human resources across provinces.

Furthermore, the project emphasizes guaranteed access to psychotropic drugs as prescribed by doctors and includes a specific chapter for children and adolescents. This section proposes the implementation of integral mental health programs and the incorporation of specialized interdisciplinary teams at the primary care level.