Mexico confronts mental health access gaps and pushes for enhanced care for child victims of violence

Psychologist Marcos Zenteno Aguayo warned that economic hardship, overloaded public clinics and social stigma keep many Mexicans from receiving timely mental‑health treatment. He noted that private fees are out of reach for most, while public waiting times can stretch for weeks, worsening conditions such as severe depression.

Federal deputy Fuensanta Guerrero Esquivel presented a point of agreement urging federal and state authorities to strengthen psychological and psychiatric protocols for children and adolescents who have suffered violence. She cited the July 10 case of 10‑year‑old Arely in Zacatecas, who was violently assaulted, as evidence of systemic failures. Citing ENCODAT 2025 data that one in ten adolescents reported psychological distress and over 440,000 expressed suicidal thoughts, she called on the Health Secretariat, the National Commission for Mental Health and Addictions, education officials, SIPINNA and child‑protection prosecutors to guarantee free, continuous care for affected minors.