Current Status of Mental Health in Mexico City

Abstract

There is limited information on the prevalence of mental health symptoms among the population of Mexico City. To provide an update and determine the prevalence of symptoms associated with various disorders in the city, a modified version of the “Screener Questionnaire” was used, the same instrument employed in the National Survey on Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use (ENCODAT) 2016–2017. Data were collected at PILARES centers in different boroughs of Mexico City. A total of 868 questionnaires on symptoms of psychiatric disorders and the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco were completed. The most frequently reported symptoms were anxiety (52.67%), depression (39.34%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (44.57%). Additionally, results showed alcohol use at 15.1%, followed by tobacco (13.6%) and illicit drug use (6.8%). The prevalence of these symptoms was also compared with data from ENCODAT 2016–2017 to observe changes over the years.