Critical analysis of mental health policies, laws, and challenges in Central America

Abstract

Mental health has been a relevant topic since 1940, however, its explicit visibility as a right began in the year 2000, when states were invited to recognize it as part of the right to health. Following this awareness-raising process, the Central American countries have developed public policies, based on their legislatures, for the creation of laws, regulations, plans and mental health policies. Currently, there is no analysis that describes the main historical events, legal framework and public policy on mental health as a right in Central America. The objective of the review is to identify main historical milestones, the current status and the challenges that persist in the region to strengthen the approach to mental health as a fundamental right of the populations. Search strategy, websites of Ministries of Health, Central American justice bodies, and Google Scholar and Google database, from 1949 to 2023. The construction of public policies on mental health in Central American countries presents advances, setbacks or stagnation according to their national context. There is still a poor political disposition in various Central American countries to promote a Mental Health Law or update existing mental health laws and documents.