Helping Santiago thrive across the lifespan

Santiago, Chile, a city of over 7 million, faces significant mental health challenges due to large inequalities and state capacity limitations. The municipality recognizes the need for collaboration with civil society, universities, and private companies. In partnership with Providencia and Renca municipalities, the Macy Health Institute, and Cita, a methodology has been developed and tested, providing mental health access to thousands. This task-sharing approach trains school counselors, nurse midwives, and other health workers to deliver interventions for anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use. The model has been implemented in Renca, focusing on adolescents, and Providencia, targeting older adults. In Renca, 80% of participating youth clinically overcame their mental health challenges, improving community participation. Investing in older adults' mental health reduces family caregiving costs and positively impacts society. The program has significantly increased provider confidence in treating complex issues. The goal is to scale these evidence-based methodologies to provide timely access to mental health treatments globally.