The Mexican Association of Psychology and Community Development requested the federal government and state and municipal administrations to establish a comprehensive public mental health policy to contribute to the pacification of the country. This came after condemning the murder of the mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo Rodríguez. In a statement, the organization warned that the violence facing Mexico is linked to a lack of attention in this area. "Violence has reached intolerable levels for all decent families," it stated, affirming that the mayor's murder "confirms the harsh reality in which we are immersed." "Narcoviolence has taken over every space, every corner of our country, leaving people helpless," the association indicated, which also accused some local authorities of diverting resources intended for mental health programs for personal benefit. The collective asserted that there is "disdain" from federal authorities, both civilian and military, considering that "they have not only been remiss in guaranteeing security, but it would seem that they have facilitated the operation of criminal cells, fostering corruption and lack of transparency from the highest levels." Regarding the case of Michoacán, the organization stated that the state government "has not risen to the occasion." It added that the head of the local executive "is more concerned with the succession in the governorship," and that his candidates "have made a ferocious expenditure of resources, in order to position themselves in the public image, ruining the urgent mental health policies that the entity requires." The statement also emphasizes that the response to violence must include social participation. Families have a responsibility by tolerating antisocial behavior in their immediate environment. The Association insisted that violent behaviors have become normalized without decisive intervention. The association demanded to guarantee universal access to psychological services for the entire population and to strengthen community prevention. We urge the authorities to establish a true mental health care policy, as one of the most scientifically evidenced ways to pacify the country. It emphasized that this care must be provided "without pretense and with the full support of our members." Likewise, it maintained that "mental health should not be taken merely as an accessory, or as a filler activity," but as a strategy "to heal the social wounds that are bleeding us dry and costing us too much." The Mexican Association of Psychology and Community Development affirmed that it has 2,500 mental health professionals and UN volunteers in Mexico and the United States, and reiterated its willingness to collaborate with authorities "in search of the common good."
