Overview

• PAHO reports a 14% post-lockdown rise in anxiety and depression among people ages 15 to 24 in the Americas.
• UNAM’s intake screening finds 28% of new students with elevated anxiety, one in three with depression, and 4% reporting suicidal ideation as campus programs like Prosam and Espora scale tens of thousands of consultations with rapid crisis slots.
• The University of Buenos Aires reports that about 35% of Argentina’s population experiences psychological distress tied to anxiety and depression.
• Experts warn that roughly 70% of Mexicans who need mental-health care do not receive it, with mental health often limited to about 2% of health budgets and additional access hurdles for minors.
• Public bodies marked the day with action, including a provincial mental-health plan presented at a council meeting in Argentina and IMSS-Bienestar teams delivering prevention and guidance in Sonora schools.