«A Serious Setback for Public Mental Health in the Country»: Psychologists’ Association Voices Deep Concerns Over Budget Cuts

Original article: “Un grave retroceso en la salud mental pública del país”: Colegio de Psicólogos expresa su profunda preocupación por anuncios de recortes Psychologists’ Association Denounces the Dismantling of Public Mental Health The Psychologists’ Association of Chile A. G. has expressed grave concerns regarding the proposed budget cuts, which would effectively dismantle state coverage in mental health.

The statement, issued by its National Board, warns that these reductions would eliminate the state’s presence in primary care, regarded as the primary access point for the majority of the population. The document emphasizes that these programs «are not minor budget items or redundant initiatives,» but rather constitute «the fundamental architecture of the health model» built over decades. It stresses that mental health must be addressed at the primary level with multidisciplinary teams, arguing that the proposed elimination is a «public policy decision» that they deem «technically unacceptable.

» Eliminated Programs and Effects on Vulnerable Populations The statement outlines an extensive list of programs slated for discontinuation, including Mental Health in APS, Psychosocial Support, PRAIS, Community Care, substance abuse programs, gender identity services, trans health, suicide prevention, dementia care, home care, assistance for migrants, and support for people with disabilities, among others. The Association warns that the impact will be particularly severe on children and adolescents, where budget cuts will affect specialized interventions for cases of maltreatment and child sexual abuse. «A child receiving care in a recovery program for sexual abuse without simultaneous access to psychiatric support will not receive comprehensive attention,» the text states, emphasizing that this compromises the quality of expert evidence in judicial proceedings.

Suicide Risks, Diversity, and Indigenous Peoples The organization also raises alarms about the elimination of the National Suicide Prevention Program, noting that Chile records a rate of 9. 5 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. «Eliminating the only national prevention program in this area… represents a potentially lethal setback,» the statement warns.

In terms of diversity, it characterizes the removal of gender identity and trans health programs as an «explicit regression,» highlighting that transgender individuals experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Additionally, it questions the termination of the Special Health Program for Indigenous Peoples, stating that this exacerbates cultural and territorial barriers to accessing care. Reparation, Memory, and Structural Consequences The statement also warns about the impact on the Health Integral Care and Repair Program (PRAIS), aimed at victims of human rights violations, whose exclusion from budget cuts the Association insists must be guaranteed.

«Denying the state’s responsibility in the origin of such harm is to disregard reparation commitments,» it emphasizes. Structurally, the organization acknowledges fiscal challenges but contests that the burden should fall on mental health. «Cutting psychological health care is not merely removing a budget line: it shifts costs to families,» they note, adding that this will result in increased pressure on hospitals, justice systems, and social protection.

Demands to the Government and Call to Action The Psychologists’ Association demands that the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance exclude these programs entirely from any budget cuts, ensuring their permanent continuity. They also request that the 2027 budget discussion involve participation from social organizations and beneficiary communities. Lastly, the statement calls on the professional community to voice their concerns publicly and defend the right to mental health as an essential component of human dignity.

«This is not an expendable cost. It is an irreplaceable public responsibility,» the document concludes, dated in Santiago on April 25, 2026.