WHO-AIMS: Report on mental health systems in Latin America and the Caribbean

Mental and neurological disorders account for almost one-quarter of the total burden of disease in Latin America and the Caribbean. An efficient mental health system is vital to being able to both provide an appropriate response and reduce this burden, which results in morbidity, mortality, and disability, and to close the wide gap in terms of those who are ill and are not receiving any type of treatment. PAHO has clearly expressed its commitment to cooperate with the Member States in restructuring mental health care, and this evaluation exercise is an essential step in that process.