Mental health: a priority in Honduras in the face of the uncertainty about the future and the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Mental health has not always been a primary focus for societies or even for healthcare providers in many countries, particularly in Latin America. Given the limited resources and high demand for mental health services in Honduras, it is important to highlight the significance of mental health and how it should become an ongoing priority, not just in response to specific events. Access to mental health care worldwide is limited, despite the fact that the incidence of mental illnesses and mental health conditions is high and continues to rise year after year. According to data from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Health Observatory, the situation may be even more critical in some countries, such as Honduras, which has only 0.66 psychiatrists and 0.62 psychologists per 100,000 inhabitants, while more developed countries like Switzerland have 43.96 psychiatrists and 84.14 psychologists for the same population size.