ABSTRACT
The world and indeed human life has vigorously changed over the last 30 years. As Prime Minister Shimon Peres said, “The twenty-first century seems not to be the continuation of history, but the future that will allow us to get ahead of danger, and direct our destiny as humanity” (Peres, 1997). Armless revolutions have occurred, frontiers have become blurred and social inequalities and natural disasters have increased around the world. The era of digital information and communication urges a change of mind, a change in lifestyles and a change in human relations. New hopes and new dangers appear and both affect mental health. Mental health problems are increasing around the world including in the Americas. In spite of new and evidence-based strategies and transformed health services globally, the gap between identified problems and effective and accessible treatments remains a significant global challenge (OMS, 2008).
