Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Mental health in Argentina - Statistics & Facts
Argentina is one of nine countries currently participating in the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health, an initiative whose two main goals are to advance mental health policy, advocacy, and human rights, and to scale up mental health interventions and services. The topic of mental health is important and relevant in Argentina. In fact, according to a survey carried out in 2023, nearly half of Argentinians consider it to be one of the main health problems facing people in their country. A similar study found that seven in ten people in Argentina often think about their mental wellbeing, one of the highest shares among a selection of countries analyzed, following South Africa, Brazil, and Colombia, and well above the global average.
According to a survey carried out in 2022, the most common method of addressing mental health discomfort in Argentina is through communication with friends, with four in ten respondents reaching out for support within their personal network. Additionally, one in five people tend to rely on prayer, while a similar share has sought out professional help. In fact, more than two million outpatient consultations related to mental health were reported in Argentina in 2020. The most common category of mental health services in the country are appointments with psychologists, followed by general mental health appointments, and medical emergency services. It has been estimated that over three million users adopt mental health medications.
Prevalence and coping strategies
As of 2021, an estimated 20 percent of Argentinians were experiencing symptoms of psychological discomfort related to anxiety and depression, a figure that has remained relatively stable during the last decade. The prevalence is higher among women, affecting nearly a fourth of the female population, as compared to close to 17 percent of men. When considering age, it is 35- to 59-year-olds, and 60- to 74-year-olds that are most affected, with 22.8 and 23.3 percent of the population presenting symptoms, respectively. Alcohol use disorders and major depressive disorders are the most common categories of mental health conditions in the South American country, prevalent in around two percent of the population, with an additional 0.76 percent of the population affected by drug use disorders.According to a survey carried out in 2022, the most common method of addressing mental health discomfort in Argentina is through communication with friends, with four in ten respondents reaching out for support within their personal network. Additionally, one in five people tend to rely on prayer, while a similar share has sought out professional help. In fact, more than two million outpatient consultations related to mental health were reported in Argentina in 2020. The most common category of mental health services in the country are appointments with psychologists, followed by general mental health appointments, and medical emergency services. It has been estimated that over three million users adopt mental health medications.
Mental health care in Argentina
Argentina is characterized by having a high number of mental health professionals. As of 2020, the number of psychologists in the Latin American country amounted to 286 doctors per 100,000 population, with an additional 15 psychiatrists and 26 mental health facilities per 100,000 inhabitants. However, based on a survey taking place in 2021, a share of the Argentinian population who consider it necessary to receive mental health treatment did not have access to it due to a lack of financial means. An additional percentage lacks strong social structural support. With a share of less than two percent of the governmental health budget allocated to mental health programs and pressing social challenges such as inflation, crime, and unemployment, caring for the mental health of the population in line with the objectives outlined within the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health will require strong coordinated efforts from multiple relevant actors.
