Ecuador signed its first National Pact for Mental Health, a historic agreement led by acting president María José Pinto and supported by 38 public, private, academic, and social institutions. The Government emphasized that, for the first time, mental health is established as a State priority.
During the event, Pinto called for strengthening intersectoral action to address a problem the country has faced for decades. "Caring for mental health is not a luxury, it's a national priority," she stated, highlighting the shared responsibility of all stakeholders to build protective environments and provide dignified care.
The Ministry of Public Health reaffirmed the state's commitment to a preventive and territorial model. PAHO/WHO praised the participatory nature of the pact, noting that rights must be experienced "in schools, neighborhoods, workplaces, hospitals, and homes," promoting a sustainable public policy.
