How do Colombians deal with symptoms of mental health conditions?
The most common way in which people in Colombia deal with symptoms of a mental health condition is by talking to family and friends. According to a 2022 survey carried out in the South American country, nearly one third of respondents would resort to their social network when dealing with mental health issues. In comparison, less than a fourth of them would look for specialized professional help, and only one in every ten would discuss the topic with their primary health care provider. Nonetheless, in 2020 over 1.2 million people were treated for a mental health condition in the South American country. This figure compares to 934 thousand patients reported in 2015, an increase of 37 percent within a five-year period. On average, every patient turns to mental health care services five times a year.When looking at data gathered through remote care services provided by the Colombian government, the main reasons for seeking professional support when dealing with mental health related symptoms are the manifestation of feelings such as anxiety and stress. Depression is also among the most common reasons for seeking professional guidance. Calls related to different types of violence, and requests for medicine are less common. When it comes to the kind of services provided, over a third of all interventions are associated with follow-up sessions, while just under three in every ten calls are linked to psychological orientation. In contrast, only around seven percent of users ask for general information.