Restructuring mental health: a South American survey

There is little information available on the changes in mental health services in South American countries following the social and political upheavals of recent decades.

A postal survey was conducted of all South American countries (health ministries, national psychiatric associations and key informants) to assess the development of mental health programs and the organization of alternative psychiatric care centers such as the psychiatric units in general hospitals (PUGH).

Most of the mental health programs were implemented during the 1980s and 1990s, and aimed at incorporating psychiatric care into primary health care, as well as relocating provision from large hospitals to decentralized services. Most of the countries surveyed have less than 0.5 psychiatric beds per 1000 inhabitants. This change reflects a tendency to reduce the total number of psychiatric beds and increase the number of PUGH. Over the last 10 years this increase was significant in some countries (50-75%), but was not reflected in the availability of adequate human and material resources.

A transition from a system based on large mental hospitals to alternative service provision is on the way in South American countries. Intensive efforts have to be made to collect and disseminate information, as well as to monitor the development and outcome of the mental health programs in these countries.