Mexico City Launches PRISMA Mental Health Platform

The Institute for the Attention and Prevention of Addictions of Mexico City (IAPA) has launched the Interactive Platform for Mental Health and Addiction Resources (PRISMA), a virtual space designed to strengthen knowledge and skills in mental health, human rights, and psychoactive substances. The platform offers accessible, evidence-based information.

PRISMA represents a key step in consolidating the city’s mental health model, says Nadine Gasman, Minister of Health for Mexico City. The model emphasizes training, awareness, and collective care to transform practices in schools, health centers, and community spaces. PRISMA is integrated into the broader “City with Emotional Health: Full Life, Happy Heart” strategy, which prioritizes mental health in public policy.

The platform was developed based on feedback from those managing everyday crises, teachers seeking clear tools, and communities in need of accessible, nonjudgmental information, says Amaya Ordorika, Director General, IAPA. It supports a shift toward a community-based mental health model, incorporating risk and harm reduction, gender perspective, human rights, and dignified support.

“We work together to reaffirm the interinstitutional commitment to advancing toward a Mexico City that promotes health through community engagement, information, and access to ethical, up-to-date tools, " says Mexico City’s Ministry of Health. 

Operating under the motto “Learn from All Angles,” PRISMA provides courses and materials for health professionals, school and community personnel, addiction treatment center staff, civil organizations, and citizens seeking stigma-free, rights-focused practices.

PRISMA’s focus is consistent with these national mental health needs. National figures indicate that one in five people has experienced a mental disorder at some point in life, including addiction. In Mexico, from 2017 to 2022, the use of amphetamines, methamphetamines, ecstasy, and prescription stimulants increased by 218%, as reported by Mexico’s Ministry of Health (SSA). These substances affected 46.2% of those who sought addiction treatment. The use of emerging drugs like fentanyl has also risen since 2018.

Moreover, data from the 2022 Continuous National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT Continua) show a rising trend in suicidal behavior nationwide, particularly among younger populations. According to Mexico’s Ministry of Health, 3.6 million adults live with depression, with 1% identified as severe cases. This rise underscores the broader relationship between mental illness and substance use, as individuals may turn to drugs in an effort to self-medicate their symptoms.

“Depression remains a prevalent issue, with a significant increase observed during the early years of the pandemic, reaching a 50% rise,” says Edilberto Peña, Director General, CISNE, to MBN.

The adoption of digital tools for mental health promotion presents new opportunities to address mental health issues. As the use of technology expands and understanding of mental health evolves, digital platforms are increasingly positioned to help close existing gaps in access and information. PRISMA’s strategy also gains relevance given that only 1.3% to 1.6% of Mexico’s total health sector budget is allocated to mental health, well below the 5% minimum recommended by the WHO for middle-income countries, according to CIEP.