The Ministry of Culture received tools to support mental health in vulnerable communities through a collaboration between IMSS Bienestar and the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). In a training on "Psychological First Aid (PAP) / Brief Intervention", the territorial teams of Creative Seedbeds, Cultural Gatherings, the National System of Musical Promotion, and the National Coordination of Children's Cultural Development – Wings and Roots, belonging to the Ministry of Culture, were trained to identify and offer initial emotional support to people facing issues such as depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidal behavior.
The session took place in the Adolfo López Mateos Room of the Los Pinos Cultural Complex with the purpose of providing tools in the area of mental health and strengthening the psycho-emotional well-being of the participants. Isaac Macip Martínez, director of Community and Preventive Communication at IMSS Bienestar, emphasized the importance of collaboration between both institutions, recognizing that the most vulnerable populations benefit from those working in cultural programs.
"The ultimate interest of this training is to empower our cultural agents, who work directly in their communities, to identify individuals who may need help regarding mental health," stated del Rivero in reference to the goal of training individuals so they can guide others in cases of problems or crises. Juan Cuadros Moreno, head of the Directorate of Linkage and Development in Mental Health and Addictions at IMSS, and Yesenia Ramírez Rafael, coordinator of Creators in the states, also participated in the training.
In an effort to strengthen the positive impact of cultural work in communities, Roberto del Rivero Pérez, general director of Information and Communication Technologies of the Ministry of Culture, underscored that this training is essential to provide effective support in mental health, highlighting the importance of expanding the capacity for attention in this area.
