Inauguration Of Community Mental Health and Addictions Center

A new institute focused on early mental health care in Tapachula, Chiapas is the first unit to transform from a Primary Addiction Care Centers (CAPA) to a Community Mental Health and Addiction Center (CECOSAMA), this is also the first city to be part of the new model that will reconvert 340 health centers to provide mental health and addictions assistance. Until June 14, 2,987 people have requested different health services provided by this unit. 

This new model called “The Response and Action Guidelines in Mental Health and Addictions for Psychosocial Support During The COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico” includes key points such as target population, change of infrastructure and the interventions needed for every case. Besides this, Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies also made changes to the General Law of Health, in order to prioritize mental health and addiction prevention.

One of the main objectives of the CECOSAMA is to allow Mexicans get medical attention in the nearest center of their community and to be able to “just as you go to the doctor for a headache or stomach ache, you can go to the doctor for a manifestation of brain disease and emotional pain” said the General Director of the National Commission Against Addictions (CONADIC), Evalinda Barrón.

CECOSAMA will also be a critical part of the network involving health care services, starting at first level care while being free of charge and universal. Regarding this, Evalinda Barrón highlighted the importance of being the core for many communities that do not have major health facilities nearby “Is not only a care center, but a center for the community and for work in the community”. 

Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies also made changes to the General Law of Health to prioritize mental health and addiction prevention. This new approach introduced new and necessary protocols for the coming years that are necessary to give complete information about the proceedings and treatments needed in each case, according to the Human Rights Commission of Mexico City (CDHCM)

There are still 339 units in Mexico that have not made the change from CAPAs to CECOSAMAs and there is not any official explanation as to how and when all the changes are going to be applied to the remaining centers, however, the Health Minister of Chiapas, José Manuel Cruz Castellanos mentioned the importance of giving it the necessary importance in order to gradually transform the remaining CAPAs in accordance with the guidelines of the new model “The Response and Action Guidelines in Mental Health and Addictions for Psychosocial Support During The COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico”.